DOH: Wear face masks, ensure clean food and water amid Kanlaon Volcano eruption

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reminded the public to wear face masks and safety goggles, as well as ensure that they are consuming clean food and water, following the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano on Monday.

In a statement, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said the DOH Western Visayas Center for Health Development has been sending face masks, safety goggles, hygiene kits, jerry water cans, and disaster relief tents to affected areas near Kanlaon Volcano since Monday.

“Nearby hospitals have also been placed on Code White. Mag-ingat po tayo, at makinig sa abiso ng ating local government officials (let's be careful and listen to the advice of our local government officials)," he said.

The DOH usually declares the Code White alert during events or holidays “that can potentially cause mass casualty incidents or emergencies.”

According to the Health Department, affected people could protect their lungs from ashfall and any noxious gasses by closing doors and windows, using wet curtains or clothes to cover any gaps where ash and gasses could enter, and wearing face masks properly, or using a wet cloth to cover their nose and mouth.

“For those with asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), ensure adequate supplies of your inhaler medicines and use them as directed by your doctor. Consult a doctor or health center immediately for any difficulty breathing,” the agency said.

Residents could also protect their eyes from ashes and dust by wearing safety goggles, if available. They should also avoid using contact lenses and switch to glasses for now.

“Do not rub your eyes. If irritated, rinse them with clean lukewarm running water. Consult a doctor or health center immediately for any persistent eye problems,” the DOH said.

It also advised residents to wash their hands properly and thoroughly before cooking and eating, and clean fruit and vegetables with running water.

Water containers should also be covered properly to avoid contamination.

Should residents experience any stomach aches or bowel movement problems, the DOH said they should consult a doctor or health center immediately.

PHIVOLCS raised the alert level at Kanlaon Volcano from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 2 on Monday, meaning its increased unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes could eventually lead to “further explosive eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption.”

As of Tuesday morning, a total of 1,562 individuals or 210 families in the province of Negros Occidental were transferred to evacuation centers following the volcanic eruption, according to the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council (PDRRMC). — RSJ, GMA Integrated News