The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) on the establishment of tourism first aid facilities in several major beaches throughout the country.

The measure comes in the wake of super-typhoon Carina (international code: Gaemi) which wrought disastrous flooding in many parts of the Philippines.

According to Tourism secretary Christina Frasco: “These tourist first aid facilities [are] the emergency response mechanism for any tourist who may encounter accidents or injuries while they are at our islands. These will be manned by highly competent healthcare personnel [and are equipped] with the necessary medical equipment and medicines to ensure timely and efficient emergency response.”

Among the sites selected for the deployment of first-aid facilities are Boracay, La Union, Panglao in Bohol, Siargao, Palawan, and Puerto Galera where there is a lack of accessible healthcare.

Clinics with a dual purpose

To address immediate medical concerns of tourists, the DOT will put up solar powered tourist first aid booths along the beachfront.

All booths are equipped with first-aid supplies, automated external defibrillators, a pull-out stretcher, a CCTV camera, and a two-way communication system for distress calls.

Aside from offering care to the injured and the unwell, these facilities also serve as a means of accident prevention, as their second floors do double duty as lifeguard stations to observe tourist activity below.