The Philippine Sports Commission will send a group of sports medicine experts as part of the contingency plan against probable incidence of heat stroke in the Palarong Pambansa slated April 20-27 in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
PSC commissioner Eric Loretizo recently said the PSC will field 10-12 doctors, physical therapists and psychologists to help augment the medical team formed by the combined group of the host city under Mayor Edward Hagedorn and the Department of Education.
“This is apart from the local health volunteers to be assigned by the host city and the DepEd in making quick response to heat stroke-related cases,” said Loretizo, who heads the PSC group coordinating with both Puerto Princesa and the DepEd.
Loretizo said part of the plan is to send the medical team earlier to conduct seminars and a crash course on how to respond to emergency cases.
Organizers of the Palaro also decided to hold the opening rites in mid afternoon to spare the athletes and guests from the scorching summer heat.
“Although its cooler in Puerto Princesa, we’re not taking chances,” Alroben Goh, the host city’s chief information officer, told The STAR.
Cases of death and hundreds of other heat stroke-related cases marred last year’s edition of the annual multi-sports meet for elementary and high school students in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. – Joey Villar