STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan (PIA) – The Region 1 Medical Center (R1MC), the largest hospital in the Ilocos Region, has raised its “white code” alert status to prepare for a possible influx of patients during the holiday festivities.
“The white code alert status requires all emergency personnel to be on standby or on-call 24/7 to respond to urgent situations,” explained Dr. Dino Manzano, R1MC medical specialist II, during the recent Kapihan sa DOH held on December 13 at the People’s Astrodome in Dagupan City.
He affirmed that hospital admissions often surge as Christmas and New Year celebrations approach due to firecracker-related injuries, food poisoning, or vehicular accidents.
However, Manzano assured the public that R1MC is working closely with the Department of Health (DOH) and other emergency service providers to address potential emergencies.
He emphasized that this measure ensures public safety and guarantees an efficient medical response in R1MC’s emergency rooms, which are located at the main hospital on Arellano Street and its Annex in Barangay Bonuan-Binloc in Dagupan City.
“Our health emergency team, composed of doctors, nurses, consultants, emergency room technicians, and ambulance drivers, promptly attends to patients based on injury severity, with all tools and medications for wound care or food poisoning ready,” Manzano added.
Residents are advised to report any emergency immediately.
For assistance, R1MC can be reached through its operation center hotline at 0960-898-7886 or (075)-515-8916.
In line with safety guidelines from DOH, Manzano advised avoiding illegal firecrackers, eating in moderation, consuming healthy food, and not driving under the influence of alcohol this holiday season.
These precautions are essential to ensure a safe and healthy celebration, especially during high-risk periods like the holidays.
Meanwhile, citing the report from the DOH Ilocos Center for Health Development Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa stated that there has been an increase in Firework-Related Injury (FWRI) cases in Pangasinan over the past three years.
FWRI cases in Pangasinan have steadily increased, with 40 cases recorded between Dec. 21, 2021, and Jan. 6, 2022, including 12 in Dagupan City.
During the same period from Dec. 21, 2022, to Jan. 6, 2023, the number rose to 62 FWRI cases in Pangasinan, with 12 cases in Dagupan City.
In the most recent period, from December 21, 2023, to January 6, 2024, FWRI cases significantly increased to 110 in Pangasinan, with 42 cases recorded in Dagupan City.
Herbosa attributed the increase to the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
“In case of firework injury, the first aid is to wash the wound thoroughly with running water to remove gunpowder – avoid unnecessary ointments. Cover it with a clean cloth and seek immediate medical attention,” Dr. Merliza Estaris, head of R1MC’s Public Health Unit, advised.
Likewise, all district hospitals in the province operate on white code alert and are directed to maintain adequate blood stocks, while public campaigns remind residents about holiday safety, including precautions for firecrackers and food handling. (CCMT/JCDR, PIA Pangasinan)
