Red Cross personnel give first aid treatments to devotees of the Black Nazarene. FILE PHOTO FROM PRC’s TWITTER ACCOUNT
At least 2,000 members and volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) were deployed to assist devotees who will participate in the Feast of the Black Nazarene or Traslacion 2018.
PRC chair and chief executive officer Sen. Richard Gordon said they had set up nine first-aid stations and deployed 44 ambulances, an emergency medical unit, an amphibian, a 6×6 truck, a fire truck, one rescue truck, two Humvees, four plastic boats, and welfare desks in some hospitals to serve when needed.
Like a devotion
“Like those who have dedicated their lives to their devotion to the Black Nazarene, it has been like a devotion for us as well at the Red Cross to ensure the health, safety and well-being of the devotees during the height of the ‘traslacion,’” Gordon said.
The first-aid stations and welfare desks are located throughout the path of the Black Nazarene procession and will be positioned at the Aquino monument, Round Table (Manila City Hall), Liwasang Bonifacio, Plaza Mexico (Post Office), Lacson (Santa Cruz area), San Sebastian, Jones Bridge, and near Quiapo Church to cater to minor and major injuries, as well as help trace missing family members and provide referral service, counseling and psychosocial support, PRC said.
All PRC chapters in Metro Manila will participate in the operation during the event, while other nearby chapters along with their volunteers will be put on standby, the humanitarian group said.
Aside from manning the first-aid stations, PRC volunteers and staff will conduct foot patrol, ambulance assistance, patient transport, and water rescue, all for easy access to medical and emergency assistance.
11 hospitals ready
At least 11 hospitals are ready to accommodate injured individuals in the event of accidents, along with referral from the Department of Health.
These include Jose Fabella Hospital, Jose Reyes Hospital, San Lazaro Hospital, Tondo Medical Center, Ospital ng Tondo, Ospital ng Sampaloc, Gat Andres Medical Center, Justice Abad Santos Memorial Medical Center, Sta. Ana Hospital, Philippine General Hospital, and Ospital ng Maynila.
Meanwhile, an emergency room will be put on standby at the PRC Port Area with doctors, nurses and technicians for a possible multicasualty incident.