Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has directed all hospitals, health facilities and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Emergency Operations Center in Negros Occidental to go on alert for the holidays.
The hospitals and health facilities in the province have been placed on Code White Alert until January 4.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Emergency Operations Center will also be on Blue Alert on December 24 to 25, and December 31 to January 1.
Blue Alert means all responders will be on standby mode, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
Code White Alert, on the other hand, refers to the readiness of hospital manpower to respond to any emergency situation.
Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, chief of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, said the Negros Occidental Hospital Operations Department has been preparing for Code White since November.
They have ensured that hospital supplies do not run out during the holidays and until the middle of January, she said.
Maestral said the next two weeks after the New Year celebrations are also crucial because that is when patients suffering from the effects of the festivities are rushed to hospitals.
Aside from patients with firecracker injuries, there are also those suffering from asthma and myocardial infarction (heart attacks) who are hospitalized, she said.
Those suffering from asthma, especially the elderly, should stay away from strong odors, especially during the New Year festivities, Maestral said.
She also warned against excessive eating that could cause heart attacks or strokes.
The hospitals, especially on New Year’s Eve, also prepare for stabbing and accident victims, Maestral said.
To avoid respiratory illnesses families are encouraged to celebrate in open areas and for the elderly to wear masks, she also said.
Get proper sleep and avoid getting too tired to avoid getting sick, Maestral said.
Maestral also reminded the public to observe cleanliness, including hand washing, in the preparation of food and to use serving spoons to avoid food poisoning.
Pastas, especially spaghetti, spoil fast and should also be refrigerated, she said.*