The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Wednesday, Jan. 10 said it is boosting its response capabilities for future mass gatherings after successfully aiding over 800 devotees during the Traslacion 2024 procession.

“The first rule of any of our operations is to prevent injury,” PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard “Dick” Gordon said as he shared the organization's intense preparation for the annual event.

This was seen when the PRC deployed over a thousand trained volunteers, including volunteer doctors, nurses, Emergency Response Unit (ERU), Emergency Medical Teams (EMS), and trained RC143 volunteers, who worked tirelessly throughout the four-day operation since Jan. 7.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/22/ph-red-cross-responds-to-700-individuals-during-2024-traslacion

"Mass gatherings can strain any medical operation due to the demand for services and that is why we have been preparing since December," he said.

Because of this, Gordon praised their efforts and called for “applying these lessons to future operations.”

"I salute and thank all the volunteers and staff of PRC for a job well done,” Gordon added.

He pointed out that this “success would not be possible without them.”

PRC Secretary-General Gwen Pang also stressed that it is better to “over prepare” than to be underprepared.

She advised devotees to prioritize rest, eat nutritious food, stay hydrated, attend to wounds and health conditions, and consult with doctors before resuming their activities.

The organization's volunteers attended to various medical cases, including dizziness, hypertension, sprains, and fractures, and even assisted a pregnant woman experiencing contractions, as well as those in need of help finding missing companions.

They also assisted minor cases including abrasions, burns, punctures, lacerations, difficulty breathing, chest pain, hyperventilation, wounds, headaches, elevated blood pressure, and infected wounds.