Report: 12-year-old boy 1st 'recorded' firecracker victim this year

A 12-year-old boy is now one of the country's earliest firecracker casualties this year, after being injured by a "five-star" firecracker he was playing with in Rizal province. Radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported on Monday that the boy, a resident of San Mateo town in Rizal, was rushed to the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center for treatment on Sunday. Doctors said the boy, whose identity was withheld because he is a minor, suffered relatively minor injury on his hand. The boy was marked as the first firecracker-related casualty on the hospital's bulletin board. The initial investigation showed the boy was playing with a "five-star" firecracker on Sunday when it exploded in his hand. Government hospitals have readied personnel and medical equipment to deal with firecracker-related injuries during the holidays. Earlier, radio dzBB reported that the government’s 72 hospitals will go on white alert from December 24 to January 1. A white alert means that hospitals should be prepared with enough personnel and equipment to treat possible revelry-related injuries. In last year’s revelry, stray bullets killed at least two persons and injured 45 others. Around 990 persons were injured by firecrackers. Bulacan firefighters inspect fireworks stalls To prevent fireworks-related fires during the holidays, firefighters in Bulacan have tightened inspections of fireworks stalls in the province. Radio dzBB's Paulo Santos reported Monday the Bureau of Fire Protection warned stall owners that they will lose their permits if they flunk the inspections. Bulacan BFP head Superintendent Abasolon Sipagan said they will check fireworks stalls for working fire extinguishers and drums containing 50 gallons of water and sand. Dealers and retailers of fireworks are also required to install concrete firewalls to prevent fire from spreading quickly. Bulacan-based firefighters have been on 24-hour alert especially in areas where the fireworks stores are located. Sipagan said they will continue to remind store owners and the public by giving them basic tips in preventing fires. – VVP, GMANews.TV