- People with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, nutrition problems, cancer, or low immunity should take special care for possible damage to health.
- Dr. Felipe Cruz Vega, head of the IMSS Special Health Projects Coordination, called on the population of areas and states surrounding the Popocatépetl volcano to stay at home and preferably use face masks and googles.
- If a person notices that the conjunctivae of the eyes are watering, inflamed or tingling, or has nosebleeds because the mucosa is injured, or a dry cough, they should go for a medical check-up.
Given the recent activity of the Popocatépetl volcano that has resulted in the fall of ash in neighboring areas and states, the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) made a call to the population. The objective is to take care of their respiratory tract, eyes, skin, digestive tract and monitor vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases.
Dr. Felipe Cruz Vega, head of the Coordination of Special Health Projects of the IMSS, pointed out that people with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, nutrition problems, cancer or low immunity, should be especially careful when volcanic ash falls.
“Recommendation, first, stay at home. Second, if for some reason they have to leave their home, the protection would be: let’s start with the eyes, if possible use googles, the glasses enter the other side of the ash and it will cause us to itch and we will rub ourselves so unconscious. The other, using face masks, has already become famous for a few years and we can get it anywhere.
Main damages that can cause
He assured that among the damages that ash can cause to people’s general health are affectations in the mucosa of the nose, inflammation in the pharynx, conjunctivitis, skin lesions due to the caustic chemical-physical reaction and abrasion of the gastric mucosa due to contact of the ash with food or water.
“From now on, from this moment on, even if you are 60 kilometers from the Popocatépetl volcano, cover your water, your food and avoid going out as much as possible. We hope this can happen soon but both the volcano and the earthquakes are unpredictable, prevention is worth more than having to attend a Health Center”.
Cruz Vega emphasized that if a person notices that the conjunctivae of their eyes begin to weep, become inflamed or tingle, or have nosebleeds because the mucosa is injured, or a dry cough, they should go for a medical check-up.
“Someone who felt healthy and starts with a lot of dry cough, non-productive cough, which does not produce phlegm, it may also be that ash has already entered and hurt the pharynx, and there are already red signs because if this is happening in a next step it could be that it inflames the glottis. If that becomes inflamed, breathing is impeded.”
IMSS activates alert protocols
Currently, Social Security maintains assets alert protocols in its hospitals and medical units in the states of Puebla, the State of Mexico, Morelos, Tlaxcala and Mexico City due to the alert phase. It also carries out permanent surveillance in a 30-kilometer radius around the Popocatépetl volcano, in conjunction with the National Coordination of Civil Protection, the State Committee for Civil Protection and the Technical Coordination of Civil Protection of the IMSS.
The IMSS has the Virtual Center for Emergency and Disaster Operations (CEVOED)operated by personnel specialized in medical-surgical emergencies, who can guide the population about their state of health before the activity of the Popocatepetl volcano.
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