2 children lose fingers in firecracker accidents

Two children suffered burns and had their fingers severed due to firecrackers, the Department of Health (DOH) reported on Saturday, 27 December.

According to the DOH, an eight-year-old lost his index finger and thumb when a whistle bomb set off in front of him.

Meanwhile, two fingers were also severed from a 16-year-old child due to a 5-star.

"Permanent injury yun, so very important yung mga magulang pigilan yung kabataan [magpaputok] (It's a permanent injury, so parents need to prevent young people from lighting firecrackers)," DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa.

"Kailangang paalalahanan yung mga bata. Yung dangers ng paputok. Sabihin niyo [rin] sa kabataan, wag na wag pupulot ng paputok (Children need to be reminded of the dangers of fireworks. Tell them also not to pick up fireworks)," Herbosa added.

Health Promotion Bureau Director Kristina Marasigan also urged the public to just use alternative noisemakers instead to avoid multiple injuries due to firecrackers.

"Hindi lang iisang parte ng katawan ang pwedeng maapektuhan ng paputok, pwede itong kumalat din sa ibang parte ng katawan (Firecrackers can affect not only one part of the body, but can also spread to other parts of the body)," Marasigan warned.

"Magkaldero na lang o magsandok o mag-videoke na lang (Just use a pot or a ladle to make noise or just sing using the videoke)," she added.

Further, the DOH reported that all those who were victims of firecrackers suffered multiple injuries or various wounds and burns in different parts of their bodies.

On Saturday, the agency recorded 21 new cases of fireworks-related injuries, bringing the total to 57. Thirty-five of whom are 19 years old and below.

Even though the Health department logged 49 percent fewer cases compared tothe 112 cases on the same period in 2024, it still reminded the public that using fireworks is dangerous--whether sold legally.

Most firecracker-related injuries involved 5-Star, kwitis, boga (PVC pipe cannon), and triangulo.