• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Education – Negros Island Region has implemented immediate strict heat safety precautions, as heat index levels across the region surged to 40 degrees Celsius on Monday.
This was after about 20 student-athletes participating in the opening of the Negros Island Regional Athletic Association Meet (NIRAAM) on Sunday at the Panaad Park Sports and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, experienced heat-related discomfort, including nausea and dizziness, while the program was ongoing.
Medical teams immediately attended to all of the affected persons, regional spokesperson Almyr Caesar Dequiña said.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Irene Bel Plotena said they sent 10 ambulances on top of two ambulances sent by the Philippine Red Cross and Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BFCCCII) Volunteer Fire Brigade, to assist the victims.
Thankfully, their cases did not worsen, Dequina said.
More than 5,000 athletes participated in the first-ever NIRAAM in Bacolod City.
Due to the high heat index, classes were suspended on Monday in E.B. Magalona and Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.
As athlete welfare is the agency’s utmost priority amid the extreme heat, Dequiña said an advisory has been issued to all tournament organizers to make necessary changes on game schedules, to ensure proper safeguards for young participants.
Competitions are recommended to start early in the morning and to end by 10:00 a.m., with possible afternoon sessions resuming after 2:00 p.m. On-site medical teams will assess conditions before any return to play, and events may be fully rescheduled if temperatures remain high past 3:00 p.m.
Dequina said officials are also authorized to halt games immediately if risks to student-athletes become apparent.
Water stations have been installed at all venues to prevent dehydration. DepED- NIR has established four medical stations and central infirmary medical station at the Panaad Park Sports and Stadium.*
