The Public Health Ministry yesterday confirmed that three male red-shirt protesters had been injured and another 13 taken ill during the past five days of demonstrations.
All the illness casualties had undergone treatment at Vachira and Klang hospitals - for diarrhea, stomach ache, fever, convulsions, and stroke. One has already been discharged.
Among the three injured male protesters, two had collapsed bleeding from the mouth, while the third had body injuries.
As red-shirt protesters splattered their blood around Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's residence near Sukhumvit Road yesterday, Jurin said he had already instructed state and private hospitals to be ready for an emergency. He also asked medical teams from Vachira hospital to clean and sterilise the ground after the protesters had poured their blood supplies.
Provincial public health offices across the country have been ordered to stand by for emergency medical assistance in case of violence as the demonstrations continue.
The Medical Emergency Operation Centre estimates the number of people in the demonstrations has decreased during the past few days.
Jurin said however he was worried about sabotage in Bangkok as many red-shirt protesters from provinces nationwide continue arriving in the capital city. He has ordered the Medical Emergency Operation Centre to be prepared around the clock to monitor any emergency violence.
He also has set up permanent medical emergency operations centres at Priest hospital, Mission hospital - teamed up with Thai Red Cross Society - and Ruamkatanyu Foundation, Vachira hospital, and Klang hospital.
"Blood, oxygen, and medical services must be prepared and on the highest alert," he said.
However, he warned protesters to take care of their own health and any falling ill should undergo treatment immediately.
Department of Mental Health's deputy director, Dr Vachira Pengchan suggested parents explain to their children about the political tension, especially the red-shirt activities of splattering blood on the grounds of prominent buildings.
"Children should be advised this was only a political expression," he said.
He added that the red shirt protesters' activity of pouring blood had had little affect on public emotion. Most people knew where the blood had come from.
"Protesters should be patient, controlling each other not to encourage any violence," he said.
