After warnings about a potential threat to airspace in Latgale, it became clear that nursing homes and social care centers cannot ensure bedridden residents comply with the 'two-wall principle'. The reason is the characteristics of the buildings and the inability to move severely ill individuals.
A series of warnings about a potential threat to airspace in Latgale has revealed another problem in the civil security system — the unpreparedness of some social institutions for such situations.
Nursing homes and social care centers in the region have acknowledged that they cannot ensure bedridden residents comply with the so-called 'two-wall principle' recommended by authorities in the event of an aerial threat.
The chairman of the Rezekne municipality, Guntars Skudra, explained that bedridden clients cannot be quickly moved to safer areas, such as hallways, because the beds cannot be physically transported there.
As a result, staff close windows and blinds and wait for the alert to end together with the residents right in their rooms.
A similar situation was described at the 'Ludza' social care center. According to the director of the institution, Regina Borisova, there is an internal action algorithm for such cases.
During warnings, walks and visits are suspended, residents are not taken to doctors, and staff remain inside the buildings with clients. However, even there, bedridden individuals cannot be moved to hallways — the rooms are too narrow for transporting beds. Other residents are placed in hallways until the alert ends.
Importantly, such institutions were not originally designed with threats of air attacks or the need for rapid evacuation of people with limited mobility in mind. Therefore, in light of modern risks, the system faces practical limitations.
Additional difficulties arise during staff shifts. If a warning is in effect at the time of a shift change, workers who have already completed their shifts are forced to stay in place, while the new shift cannot enter the facility.
The 'Ludza' social care center in Garbari and Istalsne has 86 clients.
Against the backdrop of increasing warnings about potential threats to airspace in Latgale, the issue of social institutions' readiness for crisis situations is becoming increasingly relevant.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, residents of several municipalities in the region received warnings through the mobile alert system. Authorities have already begun discussing changes to the response algorithms for such incidents.
Now the questions concern not only the operation of schools and transportation but also the ability to protect the most vulnerable residents — the elderly and bedridden individuals in social care facilities.
