Wednesday, January 10, 2007 Season total of pyro injuries reaches 9 By Carlo P. Mallo
DESPITE the five-year-old pyrotechnic ban in Davao City, two people were still reported to have been injured by firecrackers between December 21 to January 5. The region racked up a total of nine injuries with Davao del Norte topping the list.
The report from the Department of Health (DOH)-Southern Mindanao showed that a total of seven were injured in Davao del Norte, two of which were reported in the Island Garden City of Samal.
"Majority of the victims suffered from blast and burn injuries in the hands," said Dr. Paolo Pantojan of the DOH's Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit-Southern Mindanao.
He also added that some victims suffered from minor eye injuries brought about by fragments from the firecrackers.
Pantojan said there were no reports of tetanus infection, although monitoring will continue until January 27.
The victims of the firecracker injuries have already been given anti-tetanus vaccines to prevent infection. Tetanus infections are reportedly 30 to 60 percent fatal.
Meanwhile, there was only one reported victim of stray bullet injury, a four-year-old girl in Samal. The victim is said to be recovering at the Davao Medical Center.
The total injuries in the region are very low compared to other regions in the country.
The firecracker ban that was first initiated by Davao City, then later in Digos City, contributed a lot to this.
