DOH: 66 accidents in less than 24 hours
The Department of Health (DOH) reported 66 new injuries from road traffic incidents as of 6 a.m. Saturday, bringing to 350 the total number of cases since Dec. 22.
Three eventually died from the incidents, including two who sustained fatal head injuries because they were not wearing helmets.
The total cases are 23 percent higher than those reported for the same period in 2023, according to statistics released by the DOH.
On Friday, the health department reiterated to holiday travelers to wear safety gear and follow traffic rules.
Neglected public health issue
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that road injuries, which cause more than 1.3 million deaths every year, are often downplayed as “accidents” although they are preventable.
“Road traffic injuries are a major yet often neglected public health issue. Deaths and injuries from road crashes are preventable, and all sectors have roles to play in promoting road safety,” WHO Representative to the Philippines, Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus, said earlier.
In the Philippines, WHO cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing that road traffic deaths increased by 39 percent from 7,938 deaths in 2011 to 11,096 deaths in 2021.
WHO said in its website that road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among Filipinos 15 to 29 years old, and a major killer among children.
The number of fatalities dropped only in 2020, but the WHO attributed this to the population’s reduced mobility in that year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the number of deaths again increased to 11,096, coinciding with the end of lockdowns and mobility restrictions.
Road traffic injuries cost about 2.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, the WHO estimated.
De Jesus said the WHO is working with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to implement the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023-2028 as the blueprint for the country’s road safety initiatives.
In launching the plan in May, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the DOTr needs to benchmark the effectiveness of initiatives with global standards.
The plan is based on initiatives in road safety management, safer infrastructure, safer vehicles, safety conscious road users and improved post-crash response.
Firecracker-related injuries
The DOH also reported about 24 new cases of firecracker-related injuries, bringing to 121 the total cases recorded by 62 “sentinel sites,” mostly government hospitals, since Dec. 22.
The total cases are 29 percent higher than the 90 recorded in the same period last year.
Of the 121 cases, 102 were age 19 years and below; 114 were male; 91 or 73 percent were injured by illegal firecrackers such as “boga,” 5-star and piccolo; and 75 or 60 percent were actively using firecrackers when they were injured.
The DOH called adults to watch over the children and prohibit them from using fireworks, especially the illegal ones.
Better still, the agency said, using fireworks should be avoided altogether as there are plenty of alternative noise-making activities, such as blowing party horns or playing music.
