Barangay reps to teach first aid, rescue techniques after training

By Armie B. Gunay NAGA CITY --- A five-day Training of Trainers for the Basic Life Support and Community First Responders was conducted, May 15-19, 2017 at the 9th ID Philippine Army Headquarters in nearby Pili, Camarines Sur involving about 80 barangay representatives. Mandated by Ordinance No. 2017-007, authored by City Councilors Lito del Rosaio, Nene de Asis, and Jose ‘Sonny’ Ranola, M.D., the program, otherwise known as “An Ordinance Institutionalizing a Community First Responders Training by Focusing on the Members of the Families and Providing Funds for the Purpose, seeks to teach first aid, rescue techniques and other emergency procedures in the city’s household level. In accord with Republic Act 10121, the Disaster Management Law, the local ordinance falls under the Social Protection Policy of City Mayor John G. Bongat. Pilot testing for the trainers’ training was started as early as April 2017, involving about 40 participants from four barangays of Naga City- Sabang, Sta. Cruz, Carolina and Dinaga. After the trainer’s training this May, training in the community level will immediately start, requiring a representative from each family. “Kumbaga, binababa me si training. Bako lang si mga barangay officials, mga tanods, barangay health workers, kundi pati po sa every member of the family,” explained del Rosario. Inter-agencies including Health Emergency Medical Services (HEMS-BMC), Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel served as trainers— imparting knowledge and know-how in the following: Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) and Family Preparedness, Basic Life Support, Foreign Body Airway Obstruction, Basic Rescue Techniques and Extrication, Waste Management, Earthquake Awareness and Preparedness, Fire Prevention and Suppression, Role of PNP in Disasters and Emergency, Incident Command System, Inter-Agency Networking and Service Delivery Network and Water Safety and Rescue. Return demonstrations, field training exercises and simulation drills were conducted to ensure participants’ acquired skills and expertise in the conducted training. Learning from the previous experience of emergencies and disasters that recently hit the region, Del Rosario underscored the priceless importance of a well-equipped human resource, as their big investment, too, in capacity- building of their constituents in Naga City, arming them with the necessary skills. Del Rosario believes that community responders independent of the government is indispensable during times of calamities. “Human resource will remain as human resource until it is harnessed, and so, we develop them and capacitate them, for them to be of help also in the community,” stated City Councilor Del Rosario.