PH Red Cross all-set for Undas 2021 despite closure of cemeteries

Even with the closure of cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria to the public from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said on Saturday, Oct. 30 that it will still be deploying medical teams during Undas.

The PRC Safety Services which is the department responsible for handling the nationwide first aid station and ambulance team, says that deployment this Undas 2021 will be from Oct. 26 to Nov. 5.

PRC is set to put up 166 first aid stations, 85 ambulance units, 39 mobile units, 95 welfare desks, and 1,000 Red Cross personnel for the whole duration of the operation nationwide.

Every year, PRC said that it deploys first aid stations and ambulance teams to cemeteries nationwide through its local chapters to provide emergency medical care to the public during the Undas break.

In a statement, PRC stated that from Oct. 25 to Oct. 29 PRC Chapters nationwide have already provided emergency medical care to 464 individuals suffering from high blood pressure, minor wounds, dizziness, fainting, and lacerations.

"Nuong bago magpandemic, ang Red Cross ay laging naka-station sa mga sementeryo dahil sa pagdagsa ng mga tao. Hindi natin tinigil ang taunan pagbibigay ng serbisyo na yan tuwin Undas, kahit na may pandemya (Before the pandemic, the Red Cross has always been stationed in cemeteries due to the influx of people. We did not stop that kind of service every Undas, even with the presence of the pandemic)," PRC Chairman and CEO Senator Dick Gordon said.

Ang importante, may magibibgay ng paunang lunas kung sakaling kailangan ng ating mga kababayan ang emergency medical care (What's important is that we will be able to give first aid to those who might need emergency medical care)," he added.