By Jhon Aldrin Casinas

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) will deploy at least 1,000 of its personnel and volunteers to assist devotees who will join this year’s Feast of the Black Nazarene on Thursday.

PRC CEO and Chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said that aside from manpower, the humanitarian agency will also set up 13 first aid stations and welfare desks along the “Traslacion” route or the procession of the Black Nazarene.

Moreover, Gordon said that 50 ambulances will be also deployed and placed on standby in case there would be a need for some devotees to be rushed to a medical facility. Rescue and amphibian boats will be also positioned near Ayala Bridge.

“We don’t play games here. We are always prepared towards any eventuality,” Gordon said in a press briefing in Quezon City Tuesday.

Gordon said that the PRC have also coordination with hospitals in Manila. PRC volunteers, he said, will be also equipped with radio and satellite phones in case of a signal blackout during the procession.

A modular emergency medical unit will be also set up at Apolinario Mabini Elementary, he said.

According to the PRC, full deployment of its volunteers and equipments will be on Wednesday night.

The PRC chairman also gave some advise to devotees who will participate in the annual “Traslacion”, urging parents to avoid bringing their babies and kids during the procession.

“Try not to bring babies or kids in the procession,” he said. “Look after yourself. If you have special conditions like high blood pressure and heart condition, be responsible and don’t go.”

“If you have a cough, try not to go their anymore because it will only aggravate it,” Gordon added.

“At the same time, go with the flow and encourage everybody to relax, walk, and ‘wag magtulakan (don’t push people in front of you),” he further said.

With regards to barbed wires installed on the Ayala Bridge that might inflict injuries to the devotees, Gordon said that PRC will be equipped with anti-tetanus shots.

PRC volunteers will be also positioned on both ends of the bridge in case devotees might need any medical attention.

National Capital Region Police Office chief, Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas defended on Monday his decision to allow the installation of barbed wires on the steel railings of the bridge despite apprehensions that this might inflict injuries to the devotees.

According to Sinas, the barbed wires will prevent the devotees from climbing the steel beams of the bridge.

Meanwhile, Gordon hopes for a fewer number of injuries during this year’s procession, which is expected to be shorter following the changes made to its route.

For last year’s “Traslacion”, the PRC assisted a total of 1,634 devotees who required various medical attention and sustained injuries during the procession.

Millions of devotees are expected to join this year’s procession which commemorates the transfer of the Black Nazarene from Bagumbayan (old Intramuros) to Quiapo Church.