By Azer Parrocha
MANILA, (PNA) — About six to eight teams were initially deployed by the Dept. of Health (DOH) on Tuesday to aid with medical operations in earthquake-stricken areas in Central Visayas.
Aside from medical teams, paraphernalia will also be supplied and hospitals will remain fully operational, Health Usec. Teodoro Herbosa said in radio reports.
Asec. Eric Tayag meanwhile said via Twitter that after hospitals should be prepared for an influx of many patients with injuries ranging from simple lacerations to fatal crushing injuries.
“In the past massive earthquakes caused traumatic injuries up to 8 percent of endangered population, Tayag said via Twitter. “Hospitals must be prepared to handle these.”
Tayag also cautioned the public on dusts from collapsed buildings which can serious dangers to health.
“Dusts generated by damaged or collapsed buildings post EQ (earthquake) can clog air passages of trapped survivors and cause severe lung problems or death,” he said via Twitter.
He reminded the public that only skilled inspectors should be authorized to make quick post-quake inspections of damaged buildings and visibly mark them as unsafe or limited entry or inspected.
There are about 34 deaths and 158 injuries in areas which were shook by the quake, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
Both Bohol and Cebu have been declared as under a state of calamity.