Virtual Volunteer: An Online Platform For OFWs And Their Families From Red Cross

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More than 12 million Filipinos are working and living abroad as Overseas Filipino Workers. The growing volume of labor migration from the Philippines has increased the incidence of problems and challenges faced by migrants and their families.

PRC,  has been supporting OFW cases eversince through its Welfare Service by assuring that humanitarian assistance reaches the OFWs and their families.

 The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) launched its first Virtual Volunteer web platform in the Philippines.

In collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Virtual Volunteer, the latest digital platform, offers to support the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their families by relaying useful information before considering working abroad, and while they work overseas, they  provide links with services which are available. 

The Virtual Volunteer, is a source of verified local information from any connected device,  provides information for migrants safety and health on their migration. It provides OFWs and family with information, likewise to PRC volunteers enabling them to engage with local communities, contributing in delivering essential knowledge to people throughout the country.

Developed by the IFRC and tech giant IBM, the web platform has already been operational in Greece and Sweden where it has been availed by almost 30,000 people.

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What is in the Virtual Volunteer
On the platform, users can find practical information and advice from Red Cross, such as:
What they need to know before they leave the country (how to find local support in their destination, documents to bring, practical advice in the Philippines and in countries of destination, tips and more);
Know information at destination (emergency contacts, where is the embassy, who they can call for help); and
Information on what services are available for family members back home, offered by Red Cross and others, and connects people at any stages of migration with relevant services.

PRC has also provided the following services:
Psychosocial Support Program: OFWs and family members can contact the Red Cross for psychosocial support to cope with possible changes brought about by overseas employment of a family member;
Home and School Visits: 
Visit of Red Cross personnel to the family of OFWs to ensure the family is doing alright in the absence of the OFW;
Crisis Intervention: Support to OFWs’ families who are in crisis situations;
Restoring Family Links: Reconnect family members who have lost contact with a loved one;
Ambulance Service: Ambulance service for returning OFW in need will be provided from the airport to the nearest hospital within Metro Manila; 

and
Referral: Refer people in need to other organizations for services which are not within the scope of the Red Cross services.

Virtual Volunteer will also provide frequently asked questions to be read by the OFWs when facing difficult situations.

For information you can contact:
Philippine Red Cross Hotline: 143
Trunkline: +63 (02) 790-2300local 916
Email: lifeline@redcross.org.ph/ welfare@redcross.org.ph

Here are the three steps to access the Virtual Volunteer:

Step 1: Connect to internet or wifi;

Step 2: Visit www.virtualvolunteer.org;

Step 3: Get help and be informed
Source: PIA

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Earthquake Safety: What to do before, during and after an earthquake?

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) continuously reminding us especially those who are in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to prepare for the "Big One", a magnitude 7.2 earthquake to be generated by the West Valley Fault, which said is ripe for movement.

Different areas in the Philippines are experiencing earthquakes or aftershocks lately. Earthquake strike without warning, at any time of a year, day or night. When it happens, we experience a sudden, rapid shaking of the earth. Some earthquake are destructive like what happened in Surigao last February 10 leaving six people dead and over hundreds are injured.

People cannot predict exactly where and when an earthquake will strike, all we can do is to prepare ourselves just in case this natural phenomenon will strike.

But how can you prepare for an earthquake? According to the Red cross website www.redcross.org the "top tips" for earthquakes are as follows;

• Practice DROP, COVER and HOLD ON with all members of your household.

• Doorways are no stronger than any other part of a structure so don’t rely on them for protection! During an earthquake, get under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold on.

(WATCH: MAJOR EARTHQUAKE WARNING FEBRUARY 24-MARCH 8, 2017)

PREPARE IN ADVANCE (BEFORE AND EARTHQUAKE)

1. Assembling an emergency preparedness kit . Learn the essential supplies to put in your family’s first aid and survival kits.

2. Creating a household evacuation plan that includes your pets. Plan effectively for you and your family in case of an emergency.

3. Staying informed about your community’s risk and response plans. Understand which disasters are likely in your area and what you must know to stay safe.

WHAT TO DO DURING EARTHQUAKE?

(STAYING SAFE INDOORS)

DROP, COVER and HOLD ON!

• Move as little as possible - most injuries during earthquakes occur because of people moving around, falling and suffering sprains, fractures and head injuries.
• Try to protect your head and torso.
• If you are in bed, stay there, curl up and hold on, and cover your head.
• Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit.
• If you must leave a building after the shaking stops, use stairs rather than an elevator in case of aftershocks, power outages or other damage.
• Be aware that smoke alarms and sprinkler systems frequently go off in buildings during an earthquake, even if there is no fire.
• If you smell gas, get out of the house and move as far away as possible.
• Before you leave any building check to make sure that there is no debris from the building that could fall on you.

What to do before, during and after an earthquake #QuakePH #Earthquake #quake pic.twitter.com/GawQT45Mjz

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) April 4, 2017

(STAYING SAFE OUTDOORS)

• Find a clear spot and drop to the ground. Stay there until the shaking stops.
• Try to get as far away from buildings, power lines, trees, and streetlights as possible.
• If you're in a vehicle, pull over to a clear location and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses and power lines if possible.
• Stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops.
• After the shaking has stopped, drive on carefully, avoiding bridges and ramps that may have been damaged.
• If a power line falls on your vehicle, do not get out. Wait for assistance.
• If you are in a mountainous area or near unstable slopes or cliffs, be alert for falling rocks and other debris as well as landslides.

AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE

Staying Safe After an Earthquake
If you do nothing else:

1. If away from home, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.

2. Check yourself for injuries and get first aid, if necessary, before helping injured or trapped persons.

3. After an earthquake, the disaster may continue. Expect and prepare for potential aftershocks, landslides or even a tsunami if you live on a coast.

4. Each time you feel an aftershock, DROP, COVER and HOLD ON. Aftershocks frequently occur minutes, days, weeks and even months following an earthquake.

5. Look for and extinguish small fires. Fire is the most common hazard after an earthquake.

Narito ang mga paala-ala ng PHIVOLCS na dapat gawin upang mapaghandaan kapag may lindol.

• Alamin kung ang lugar ay malapit o dinadaanan ng active fault. Inirerekomenda ng PHIVOLCS ang hindi bababa sa limang metrong buffer zone mula sa magkabilang gilid ng fault upang makaiwas sa panganib ng ground rupture. Siyasatin kung ang lugar ay may malambot na lupa, may matatarik na dalisdis, o nasa tabing-dagat o lawa.
• Tiyaking matibay at umaayon sa building code ang ipatatayong gusali at imprastruktura upang maiwasan ang pagbagsak sanhi ng ground shaking.
• Ipasuri ang tibay ng gusali at iba pang imprastruktura.
• Itali ang mabibigat na kasangkapan sa poste ng bahay o anumang pagkakapitan.
• Tiyaking maayos ang pagkakakabit ng nakabitin na bagay.
• Ilagay sa pinakailalim na bahagi ng kabinet ang mga babasagin, nakalalasong kemikal, bagay na madaling magliyab, at mabibigat na gamit.
• Ugaliing isara ang tangke ng gas pagkatapos gamitin.
• Alamin ang ligtas at matibay na bahagi ng gusali, tulad ng lugar malapit sa elevator shaft at ilalim ng lamesang matibay, kung saan maaaring manatiling magtago habang lumilindol.
• Matutong gumamit ng fire extinguisher, first aid kit, at emergency alarm. Dapat nakalagay ito sa lugar na madaling puntahan at makuha, at may palatandaan o markang madaling makita.
• Alamin ang pinakamalapit na emergency exit, kabilang ang ligtas at mabilis na daan papunta rito.

Narito ang mga dapat gawin habang may lindol.
Kung nasa loob ng matibay na gusali:

• Manatili sa loob;
• Gawin ang "duck, cover, and hold" na posisyon – yumuko, magtago sa ilalim ng matibay na lamesa at humawak sa paa nito upang maprotektahan ang sarili sa naglalaglagan at naghahampasang bagay;
• Umiwas sa salaming maaaring mabasag; at
• Kapag may pagkakataon, buksan agad ang pinto upang makalabas matapos ang lindol.

Kung nasa labas:

• Magtungo sa bakantang lote (open space) na malayo sa gilid ng bundok, o sa tabi ng dagat at lawa;
• Lumayo sa mga puno, poste ng kuryente, pader, at ibang istruktura na maaaring bumagsak o tumumba; at
• Iwasan ang gusaling na maraming salamin.

Kung nagmamaneho:

• Itabi at ihinto ang sasakyan; at
• Huwag magtangkang tumawid sa tulay, overpass, o foot bridge dahil maaaring mapinsala ito ng lindol.

Kung nasa gilid ng bundok:

• Lumayo agad sa lugar na may matatarik na dalisdis;
• Kapag naabutan ng landslide sa loob ng bahay, magtago sa ilalim ng matibay na lamesa o kama; at
• Kapag naabutan sa loob ng sasakyan, manatili lamang sa loob nito.

Kung nasa tabi ng dagat o lawa:

• Mas makabubuting ipagpalagay na magkakaroon ng tsunami o seiche; at
• Lumikas nang mabilis papunta sa mataas na lugar, papalayo sa tabing-dagat o lawa.

Narito ang mga dapat gawin pagkatapos ng lindol.

• Suriin ang sarili at kasamahan sa pinsalang natamo.
• Maglakad nang mabilis at lumabas gamit ang pinakaligtas na daan kung inabutan ng lindol sa loob ng luma at marupok na gusali.
• Tulungan sa paglikas ang may kapansanan, buntis, bata, at matatanda.
• Huwag gamitin ang elevator sa pagbaba.
• Huwag gamitin ang telepono maliban kung kailangan ng agarang tulong. Ang linya ng telepono ay gagamitin ng mga awtoridad para sa madaling pagkalap at pagsalin ng impormasyon sa oras ng emergency.
• Huwag gamitin ang sasakyan sa apektadong lugar. Ang maluwag na kalsada ay kailangan para sa mabilis na operasyon ng mga rumeresponde.
• Huwag pumasok sa gusaling may nasirang bahagi. Maaaring tuluyang gumuho o bumagsak ito kapag nagkaroon ng malakas na aftershocks.
• Makinig sa balita at sumunod sa instruksyon ng mga awtoridad.
• Maingat na linisin ang natapon na nakalalason at madaling magliyab na kemikal.
• Alamin kung may sunog at agad itong apulain. Ipagbigay-alam sa mga awtoridad, kung kinakailangan.
• Siyasatin ang tubo ng tubig at kawad ng kuryente. Kung may sira, isara ang pinagmumulan ng linya ng tubig o kuryente.
• Mag-iwan ng mensahe kung saan pupunta kapag lilisanin ang tahanan. Dalhin ang emergency survival kit. - source, Interaksyon.com

SEE MORE:
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