BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — City Environment and Parks Management Officer Rhenan Diwas has said the Tourist First Aid Booths recently installed at the parks currently function as an extension of Smart City Command Center where people can report emergency cases through a push-button system and not as full-blown medical response facilities.
Although the booths are equipped with emergency kits, these are intended for ultra emergency cases like hypertension, stroke, fainting and similar medical cases.
“For other medical emergencies, people in need of assistance may simply press the button and be connected to Baguio 911 personnel who can immediately dispatch responders within minutes,” Diwas said.
The push-button system allows easy connection and facilitates fast coordination between 911 personnel and emergency medical services, rescue teams, police and other agencies for the deployment of assistance.
Diwas however said the city will work out to expand services of the booths to include more other emergency situations by installing additional emergency equipment, more first aid kits and other logistics.
Diwas said there are however things to consider as any additional equipment will require proper management and maintenance and thus will require manpower which the CEPMO does not have as of the moment.
He said the Smart City Command Center currently oversees the operation of the emergency call booths.
He said the emergency booth at Burnham Park operates 24/7 since the park is open at all times.
Meanwhile, booths at Botanical Garden and Bayan Park are operational only during park hours, as both parks close at 7 p.m.
He said the city has also deployed two park rangers who regularly patrol the parks and check if the emergency booths are functioning properly.
The Command Center also monitors the system to ensure emergency calls can be received at any time.
Should additional safety features be installed, he said these will be managed by the city government.
The city also hopes to eventually assign emergency medical services (EMS) personnel in parks but noted that limited manpower currently makes this difficult.
During holidays and peak seasons, however, medical responders and police personnel are stationed in major parks.
Diwas said the facilities, a project funded by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) are still being completed as he assured that the city is following up the completion of the unfinished segments like the installation of the permanent posts for the elevated solar panels to make the reporting system sustainable. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
