A 27-year old male from Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya became the first victim of stray bullet as the country gears up to welcome 2017 in three days.
Based on its Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction 2016 Report No. 8, the Department of Health (DOH) related that they have already registered one case of stray bullet injury.
“He sustained a gunshot wound to the head inside their house last December 25,” said the DOH report.
The victim, the report said, is currently admitted at the Veterans Regional Hospital in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
And with the report of one stray bullet injury, the DOH said there are now a total of 105 New Year revelry-related injuries reported across the country from the period of December 21 to 6 a.m. of December 29.
The figure, however, remains lower by 60 cases compared to the same period as last year, which had 165.
Of the total cases this year, 103 were firecracker-related injuries, while firecracker ingestion and stray bullet registered one each.
The report said Piccolo continues to be the top cause of injuries after accounting for 61 cases (59%); followed by Boga with 10 (10%). Both are considered as illegal firecrackers.
Majority of the victims of Piccolo are active users that are children less than 15 years old with 47 or 77 percent.
In all, a total of 79 children below 15 years old (77%) sustained firecracker-related injuries as the median age of victims stood at 11 years old.
Hands continue to be the most common injured body part with 66 cases (64%); followed by eyes with 21 cases (20%).
Metro Manila continues to register the most number of firecracker-related injuries with 54 (51%); followed by Western Visayas with 11 (10%); and Calabarzon with 10 (10%).
The nation’s capital city, Manila, remains to have the most number of injuries in Metro Manila with 24 (44%); followed by Quezon City with 12 (22%); and Mandaluyong City with 5 (9%). (HDT/Sunnex)