Firework-related injuries continue to decline — DoH

The country has seen a steady decline in the number of firework-related injuries in the last five years, the Department of Health said Friday.

It disclosed that hospital admissions due to firework-related injuries declined from a high of 677 in 2016 down to its lowest of 122 in 2021.

"This is a good indicator of practicing safer new years away from physical injuries and emergencies," said the Health department.

The DoH also called on the public, including the local government units and private sectors to help continue to maintain the trend in the coming years and the nearing New Year to come.

The agency reiterated that this can be done by employing alternative ways of creating loud noises such as through pots and pans, speakers, horns and percussion among many others.

Despite the downtrend, Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire previously said that all hospitals across the country would be on "high alert" to cater to all injuries and emergencies that may occur during the New Year's celebration.