By Connie B. Destura
LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 14 (PNA) — The Albay Provincial Health Office (APHO) raised its code from white to blue during the meeting of the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council on Monday morning.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Nathaniel Rempillo said the Albay Health and Emergency Management (AHEM) team is on standby mode as Typhoon “Nona” is expected to landfall in Albay early Monday evening.
“With more than 200 ready and well-trained personnel and staff, we are prepared,” Rempillo said.
At least 121 personnel composed of nurses, doctors and trained rescuers and health personnel from AHEM and 100 from the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) Health Emergency Management staff are on standby for action anytime, he said.
Code White represents the readiness of the team while Blue is used for possible affected families that range from 50 or more, and Red as highest form involves more than 100 affected families.
Emergency codes are used in hospitals worldwide to alert staff on various emergencies.
The use of codes is intended to convey essential information quickly and with minimal misunderstanding to staff, while preventing stress and panic among visitors to the hospital.
Codes are posted on placards throughout the hospital, or printed on employee identification badges for ready reference. (PNA)