Red Cross Activates Safety Assistance Operations for Holy Week

(PNA) — In anticipation of the influx of Holy Week travelers, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said on Tuesday that its Holy Week safety assistance operations has been placed in active status since March 27.

According to PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon, the activation of the safety assistance operations meant to ensure immediate response should any emergency arise while many people travel to the provinces and visit churches in observance of Lent.

“We want to ensure the safety of the general public by setting first aid stations, ambulance services and welfare desks in areas where people are likely to converge. We want to ensure that help will be readily available should any need arises,” Gordon said.

He added that aside from the first aid stations and welfare desks, they are also deploying volunteers and ambulances in public-convergence areas such as the Ali Mall bus terminal at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City, and at the Batangas pier.

He added that they also mobilized ambulances and volunteers along with the first aid stations and welfare desks in gasoline stations, major highways, churches, parks, and other major crowded areas to offer assistance and emergency response to travellers.

In addition, the PRC also established coordination with major gasoline stations along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway, and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) for the positioning of Red Cross first aid stations and welfare desks that can assist commuters.

Gordon said they are also deploying volunteer lifeguards in crowded beaches, like Boracay in Malay, Aklan and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro to immediately respond in case of any water-related incidents.

Meanwhile, PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang advised everyone to keep safe and be wary of accidents.

Pang also instructed the Red Cross chapters nationwide to coordinate with local government authorities for the duration of the operations which is from March 27 to April 6, 2015.

“Let us be safe during our trips this Holy Week and keep the observance solemn. We should follow the safety rules and regulations to avoid accidents,” she said.

She also reminded the public to be sun smart and maintain proper hydration to avoid sunburn and heat stroke.

In case of emergency, the Red Cross numbers are readily available for anyone to contact:

Emergency number: dial 143

Direct line: 524-5787

Trunk line: 527-0000 Loc. 117

SUN 0942-553-3622

Smart 0939-261-2576.

(PNA) SCS/LSJ