Fireworks

Related
Injuries
Adriano|Cortez|Morales
Razon|Salac|Sigua|Villota

11-St. Margaret
 History
and
Background
 HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Filipinos have their own way of celebrating and

starting the New Year. Lighting up firecrackers and
fireworks have always been a part of the revelry
during new year’s eve. It was believed to have
started in China during the Lunar New Year, where
people do this to drive away the bad luck and the
bad spirits, and to welcome the change of season
as another year starts.
 HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

It is also believed that in the earlier centuries of

Spanish rule, fireworks have been available but
tightly regulated by colonial authorities since
gunpowder was a valuable military supply that must
not fall into the hands of unconquered peoples,
especially the Moro who still used native cannon
weaponry. However, by the late 19th century, the
manufacture, sale and use of celebratory fireworks
appear to have started becoming private at least in
Manila and nearby provinces. It was then adapted
by the Filipinos, who continued to develop the
industry until it flourished in Bocaue, Bulacan.
 Firecracker
Related
Injury Cases
FIRECRACKER RELATED INJURY CASES

2016: In 2016, the DOH Aksyon Paputok Injury Reduction

(APIR) Surveillance reported a total recorded a total of 932
firecracker-related injuries between December 21, 2015 and
January 5, 2016. There was also one death due to massive
injuries from an exploding Goodbye Philippines.
Breakdown of Cases: Majority of the cases or a total of 427
equivalent to 56 percent were from the National Capital
Region (NCR). Most of the incidents were monitored in
Manila with 135 recorded injured, followed by Quezon City
with 85 cases; Mandaluyong, 52; Marikina, 37; Valenzuela,
25; Pasig and Navotas, 20 each; and Caloocan, 13.
FIRECRACKER RELATED INJURY CASES

2018: The Department of Health today reported an overall

27% decrease in fireworks-related injuries for the
surveillance period 21 December 2017 to 5 January 2018.
There was no reported death, no case of fireworks ingestion
and stray bullet injury. This brings the total number of
fireworks-related injuries to 463.
Breakdown of Cases: Of the total 463 cases nationwide, the
National Capital Region (NCR) topped the list with 248
cases, followed by Ilocos Region (46 cases), CALABARZON
and Western Visayas (45 cases each), Central Luzon (28),
and Central Visayas and Bicol (15 cases each).
Preventions
and
Suggestions
PREVENTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

First aid measures are necessary and

useful in times of emergency.

In case of firecracker injury to eye, do

not rub your eye. Wash your eye
immediately with water for 10 minutes,
and contact a doctor immediately.
PREVENTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

Discourage children from picking up

firecrackers which have failed to
explode.

Always use footwear while bursting

crackers.
PREVENTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose

nearby.

Never carry fireworks in a pocket or

shoot them off in metal or glass
containers.
PREVENTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

After fireworks are done burning, douse

with plenty of water before throwing
them away to prevent a trash fire.

Parents and caretakers should always

closely supervise teens using fireworks.
PREVENTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

Don’t give sparklers or bottle rockets to

young kids

Only use legal, home-use firework

Solution
 SOLUTION

From the given data of firecracker-related injuries in

2016, which is 932 injuries and 2018, 463 injuries,
we could predict the approximate number of
injuries in 2020 using the formula:
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑏 𝑡
Where:
y = ending value;
a = initial value;
b = growth/decay factor; and
t = time
 SOLUTION

First, we will solve for the growth/decay factor by

substituting the data from 2016 and 2018 to the
given equation. Therefore, y will be the number of
injuries in 2018, a in 2016, and t will be the 2 year-
difference between 2016 and 2018.
463 = 932𝑏 2
463 932𝑏 2
=
932 932
0.4967811159 = 𝑏 2
𝑏 = 0.70
Therefore, we have the exponential model:
𝑦 = 932(0.70)𝑡
 SOLUTION

To predict the approximate number of injuries in

2020, we will substitute t to the time difference
between 2016 and 2020, which is four years.
𝑦 = 932(0.70)4
𝑦 = 932(0.2401)
𝑦 = 223.7732
Rounding off the answer to the nearest whole
number, the approximate number of firecracker-
related injuries in 2020 is 224.
 SOLUTION

Firecracker-Related Injuries in the Philippines

1000
932
900
800
NUMBER OF INJURIES

700
600
500
463
400
300
200 224

100
0
2016 2018 2020
YEAR

Number of firecracker-related injuries per year

Figure 1: Firecracker-related injuries in the Philippines

 SOLUTION

Figure 1 shows the exponential decay of firecracker-related

injuries from 2016 to 2020.The Department of Health (DOH)
together with other agencies promote safer New Year
celebrations without the use of fireworks at home or other
places, aside from accredited fireworks displays. The
Executive Order (EO) No. 28, also known as “Providing for
The Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers And
Other Pyrotechnic Devices,” signed by President Rodrigo
Duterte on June 20, 2017 strengthens the long-time
advocacy of the DOH, Philippine National Police,
Department of Interior and Local Government, Bureau of
Fire Protection and other partner agencies to welcome the
New Year safely by other ways of merriment and avoiding
the use of fireworks and other harmful explosive devices
during the festivities. This gradually reduced the cases of
firecracker-related injuries in the Philippines for the past
years, and if this will continue, it would be possible for our
country to achieve zero firecracker-related injuries.
 Brief
Summary
 BRIEF SUMMARY

Celebrating the New Year is one of the most special

traditions that the Philippines has. Filipinos have their own
and unique ways to celebrate such celebration. Firecrackers
and fireworks have always been a part of the revelry during
New Year’s eve. This is believed to drive away bad luck and
evil spirits and prevent them from entering the new year. In
2016, there were 932 fireworks-related injuries which was
32% lower than its last year. In 2018, there were 463
fireworks-related cases which is a 27% decrease from its
last two years (2016). Assuming that they have the same
decay factor, it is expected that in 2020, the number of cases
will decrease from 463 cases to just 224 cases. The
Department of Health promotes a safer New Year
celebration by prohibiting the use of dangerous firecrackers
and fireworks. If this gradual decrease will continue, it will
be possible for our country to achieve zero fireworks-related
injuries, thus ensuring the safety of everyone’s lives in this
special time of the year.