The Department of Health yesterday warned of a rising caseload in firecracker-related injuries as five more cases were recorded, bringing the total so far to 25, 14 percent up from the 22 cases for the same period last year.

Thirteen of the 25 cases sustained eye injuries, eight with hand wounds, three at the forearms, and one at the back. The top culprits for the injuries had been boga, whistle bomb, kwitis and 5-star.

An improvised firework, boga caused eight or 32 percent of the injuries, according to the DoH, which has yet to record incidents of stray bullet injuries or fireworks ingestion.

DoH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, in a press briefing Tuesday, advised the public on applying first aid on people with firecracker-related wounds and injuries.

"When we get injuries due to fireworks, the first thing we look at is the extent of the injury. When we see that there is too much blood or that one of our fingers or hands is severed, just wrap the injury in a clean cloth and go to the hospital immediately" she said.

But if the injuries are not severe, Vergeire said they should be cleaned with soap and water and put under observation. The DoH official also urged pyrotechnic victims to get tetanus shots.

According to the DoH's fireworks-related injury surveillance report, five of the 25 cases came from Western Visayas, with three each coming from the Bicol Region, Central Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN.

Two cases were recorded each in the Ilocos Region, Mimaropa, Davao Region and the National Capital Region. One case each was logged in Central Luzon, CALABARZON and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

A Philippine News Agency report said that 181 fireworks-related injuries were logged for 2021, 47 percent higher than in 2020 but 56 percent lower than the five-year average at 414 injuries.

However, official DoH figures only pegged pyro-related injuries in 2021 at only 128 and 2020 at 122.