Manila Bulletin
Philippines
PH Red Cross frontline staff, volunteers get protective equipment against nCoV
Philippines
PH Red Cross frontline staff, volunteers get protective equipment against nCoV
PH Red Cross frontline staff, volunteers get protective equipment against nCoV
Published Feb 10, 2020 12:00 am
By Jel Santos
As the number of persons under investigation (PUI) for the novel coronavirus (nCoV) goes up, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) provided personal protective equipment (PPE) to its frontline staff and volunteers to ensure their safety while handling suspected cases.
(Photo from PH Red Cross)
PRC Chairman Richard “Dick” Gordon said the humanitarian organization is all geared up to help in handling PUIs.
“The Philippine Red Cross is ready to respond to the Coronavirus scare. As it is important to us that we guarantee the protection of our staff and volunteers who are handling suspected cases of Coronavirus, we provide them with PPE sets for them to use during operations. We want our people to be protected and for us, prevention is of highest importance,” he said in a statement.
“We have prepositioned PPE sets to our key chapters with international airports and to PRC regional warehouses because we want to make sure that the PPEs are available to chapters whenever needed. We will purchase more of this equipment because we’ll never know when will the spread of the virus stop. Better safe than sorry,” Gordon further said.
According to PRC, there are two different types of PPEs being used by the humanitarian organization---the basic set, and three-layered clothing, double masks.
“The basic set is the standard set used by frontline workers coordinating with the families of suspected patients, while the frontline set is for staff who has direct contact with confirmed cases such as those assigned in ambulances. These staff are required to wear a three-layered clothing, double masks (medical N95 and surgical masks), and double gloves for extra protection,” it said.
The humanitarian organization said it has been very vigilant in monitoring suspected cases of nCov in the country, adding it has been actively promoting health and hygiene activities such as the proper washing of hands as part of its prevention intervention
PRC said that all their ambulance crew are well-trained in infection precaution.
Moreover, the organization said it has set up welfare desks in airports and in hospitals, while sufficient blood supply is ensured. “Likewise, the PRC will be ready to provide medical tents to key hospitals in order to provide additional space to manage patients.”
As of February 10, 2020, the Health Department said there are 314 PUIs in the country. Three people have been tested positive for nCoV, while one death was recorded because of the disease.
(Photo from PH Red Cross)
PRC Chairman Richard “Dick” Gordon said the humanitarian organization is all geared up to help in handling PUIs.
“The Philippine Red Cross is ready to respond to the Coronavirus scare. As it is important to us that we guarantee the protection of our staff and volunteers who are handling suspected cases of Coronavirus, we provide them with PPE sets for them to use during operations. We want our people to be protected and for us, prevention is of highest importance,” he said in a statement.
“We have prepositioned PPE sets to our key chapters with international airports and to PRC regional warehouses because we want to make sure that the PPEs are available to chapters whenever needed. We will purchase more of this equipment because we’ll never know when will the spread of the virus stop. Better safe than sorry,” Gordon further said.
According to PRC, there are two different types of PPEs being used by the humanitarian organization---the basic set, and three-layered clothing, double masks.
“The basic set is the standard set used by frontline workers coordinating with the families of suspected patients, while the frontline set is for staff who has direct contact with confirmed cases such as those assigned in ambulances. These staff are required to wear a three-layered clothing, double masks (medical N95 and surgical masks), and double gloves for extra protection,” it said.
The humanitarian organization said it has been very vigilant in monitoring suspected cases of nCov in the country, adding it has been actively promoting health and hygiene activities such as the proper washing of hands as part of its prevention intervention
PRC said that all their ambulance crew are well-trained in infection precaution.
Moreover, the organization said it has set up welfare desks in airports and in hospitals, while sufficient blood supply is ensured. “Likewise, the PRC will be ready to provide medical tents to key hospitals in order to provide additional space to manage patients.”
As of February 10, 2020, the Health Department said there are 314 PUIs in the country. Three people have been tested positive for nCoV, while one death was recorded because of the disease.