The eruption of the volcano on the island of La Palma This Sunday has not caught the health services of this community by surprise, which had a device prepared for days. However, despite these preparations, the eruption launches the gases and particles atmosphere whose trajectory can not be controlled, and which, in addition, are potentially dangerous to health.
The volcano that has erupted this Sunday in the cow's head area, in Los Llanos de Aridane, has at least five Bocas, has announced the president of the Cabildo de la Palma, Mariano Hernández Zapata, in a recess of the Plan Commission Volcanic emergencies of Canarias (pevolca).
"The eruption releases natural pollutants, which are gases, sulfur and carbon dioxide, and ashes that irritate the respiratory and high-grade roads", has pointed out Cristina Martínez, pneumologist and coordinator of the environment area of the separation (Spanish society of pneumology and thoracic surgery), in conversations with this newspaper.
The expert recalls that these "natural pollutants" can disperse many kilometers, affecting more population. "The breathing of these gases and ashes causes cough, rhinitis, expectorations, tearing and can lead to bronchospasms, closure of respiratory tract affecting asthmatic patients, children and the elderly."
For this reason, the pneumologist recommends that the population that is not being evacuated that "close doors and windows of their homes, block ventilation systems where air can enter, and use mask."
And, according to the expert, an eruption like the one that has begun this Sunday "ends up affecting the entire ecosystem of the palm and the islands of around: to the waters and crops".
In this sense, he recalled that the last reference of a similar eruption that we have in Europe was that of the Icelandic volcano whose ashes and gases ended up affecting aircraft air routes. "
The technicians analyze the evolution of the eruption and the data collected to make predictions from where the magma could advance. From this depend on the upcoming evacuations, if they were necessary, has added the president of the Cabildo of La Palma. "We hope that the lava respect, that is benevolent and directs to the coast, causing the least possible condition," has wanted Zapata, who has added that he could go to everything and follow his way to the coast.
The president of the Cabildo de la Palma has called "the responsibility and common sense" since "many people" are getting closer to the area of the eruption and are generating "problems" to the eviction tasks. "Time will be to see the volcano," he has sentenced him.
Fast response health equipment (ESRR), made up of four medical professionals and six nursing, are intended to provide services in the advanced sanitary position deployed in the relief area that is designated next to the impact area. It will be responsible for carrying out the triage, medical assessment, stabilization and transportation to the centers of possible affected. There is a designed shelter for displaced persons and another to isolate people with positive diagnosis by SARS-COV-2.
Likewise, within the operation, the Canary Emergency Service has mobilized 10 non-urgent health transport ambulances (TSNU), both collective and individual with a stretcher, for the evacuation of people with reduced mobility.
Date Of Update: 21 September 2021, 18:50
