Environmental Pollution: Gases and Ozone Depletion

First Responders

• Police, firefighters, public health, public works, and medical emergency services are types of first responders
• Executive Order No. 226 (2003) institutionalized Patrol 117 as the nationwide emergency hotline number for police assistance, fire protection, and Philippine Red Cross (PRC)

Public Health System

• Mission: promotion of health, prevention of disease, and protection from threats to health
• Public health officials provide advice and assistance to other public officials related to environmental and health matters

The Philippine Red Cross

• Founded in 1947
• 2 main functions: blood provision and disaster-related services
• Principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity, and Universality
• Major services:
  • National Blood Services: provision of safe blood for medical purposes
  • Safety Services: training in first aid, basic life support, water safety, accident prevention, and other basic rescue courses
  • Social Services: guidance and counseling, psychosocial support, tracing services, referral services, and early livelihood recovery programs

Disasters and Emergencies

• Definitions:
  • Emergency: any event endangering the life or health of a significant number of people, demanding immediate action
  • Disaster: any event causing a level of destruction, death, or injury that affects the community's ability to respond to the incident using available resources
  • Mass Casualty: one in which 100 or more individuals are involved
  • Multiple Casualties: one in which more than 2 but fewer than 100 individuals are involved
• DIRECT VICTIM: an individual immediately affected by the event
• INDIRECT VICTIM: a family member or friend of the victim or a first responder

E-Health and Informatics

• The use of e-commerce and e-business practices in health systems management
• Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is a diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, create, disseminate, and manage information
• Uses of e-health:
  • Healthcare services
  • Health surveillance
  • Health literature
  • Health education
  • Research
• Data vs. Information:
  • Data: unanalyzed raw facts
  • Information: raw data given a meaning after being processed and analyzed

E-Health Situation in the Philippines

• Availability of internet services: 73 million subscribers, 80% mobile penetration
• Advantages of e-health:
  • Continuity and interoperability of care
  • Legible data
  • Enhanced patient privacy
  • Efficient use of resources
• Challenges:
  • Training and maintenance
  • Cultural aspects and aversion to modernization
  • Unfamiliarity with technology
  • Lack of assessment of professionals' needs
  • Acceptance of new technology

Universal Health Care and ICT

• Kalusugan Pangkalahatan (KP) reform agenda has 3 priority health directions:
  • Disaster management services
  • Healthcare services
  • Health education
• The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan focuses on:
  • Building individual, collective, and institutional capacities
  • Decreasing vulnerabilities
  • Strengthening government and stakeholder capacities
  • Institutionalizing arrangements and measures for reducing disaster risks

Responses to Disaster

• Community responses to disaster:
  • Heroic phase: immediate response to help survivors
  • Honeymoon phase: gathering together after the disaster
• Rehabilitation and recovery: measures to restore communities' normal functioning and rebuild livelihoods and damaged infrastructure