P.R. Laws tit. 24, § 359b
The Department of Health is hereby directed to establish the following protocol to manage information related to epidemic diseases and environmental accidents:
(1) Initial assessment. — The Department of Health shall establish priorities to accurately determine the existence of epidemic diseases and environmental accidents.
(a) The most accurate information shall be immediately gathered.
(b) In subsequent days more accurate data provided by the established centers shall be collected.
(2) Health services available in the area shall be verified as well as the capacity of hospitals to receive patients.
(3) A survey shall be conducted in the hospitals of the area to identify high risk groups by age, sex, and pathological condition. Hospitals shall apply their respective protocols to manage the emergency cases to be attended.
(4) Determine the affected geographical area.
(5) The citizenry shall be informed, once the epidemic, biological disaster or environmental accident is determined and located.
(6) In the case of epidemic diseases:
(a) By mutual agreement with the Federal Telecommunications Agency, the first press release shall be broadcast through the radio and television systems attached to the Weather Bureau Network. Said press release shall be transmitted as often as necessary while the emergency lasts.
(b) Press fillers and television and radio spots shall be scheduled to broadcast accurate information to the population. Government radio and television stations shall participate prominently in the campaign.
(c) An Internet website shall be established and promoted through which the citizens shall be able to access complete and updated information on the situation:
(i) Descriptive profile of the affected population
(ii) Symptoms. — Methods for identifying affected people.
(iii) Prevention. — Orientation on the preventive action plans.
(iv) Vaccination. — If applicable, centers and schedules shall be announced.
(v) Hospitals, clinics, and treatment centers enabled to attend to cases associated to the emergency situation.
(7) In the case of environmental accidents in which, due to location, time, urgency or other reasons, it is not feasible to use the regular mass communications media, such as those stated in the previous subsection, the following measures shall be considered:
(a) Emergency Management Office (municipal or Commonwealth).— Use internal communication resources and systems of the agency to their maximum (radios, megaphones, etc.).
(b) National Guard. — The corps’ communications network.
(c) Red Cross. — The organization’s communications network.
(d) Box holder. — Handing out of brochures in government facilities.
(e) Voluntary expert groups. — Shall offer orientations through all the available media.
(f) Apply all protocols established by the different agencies, hospitals and expert organizations for emergency management.
History —Oct. 1, 2007, No. 137, § 3, eff. 90 days after Oct. 1, 2007.