Abra emergency response teams trained on basic life support

By Maria Teresa B. Benas

BANGUED, Abra, June 19 (PIA) — The Health Emergency Management staff of the Abra Provincial Hospital (APH) Rescue Team and Bureau of Fire Protection initiated the 3rd Batch Special Training on Basic Life Support Program last week at the Provincial Capitol here.

Forty volunteer-participants from the rural health units (RHU) of La Paz, San Juan, Peñarrubia and Bucay, and the APH attended the three-day training aimed at educating the participants the proper ways to administer first aid to a victim depending on their condition and the situation.

Among the topics discussed in the training are methods on getting started during emergency like planning anticipated needs and available resources like first aid kit, preparing equipment and personnel, and administering initial response “AID,” which stands for “Ask for help, Intervene, and Do no further harm.

Participants were also taught the necessary emergency action principles like cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and getting an initial assessment of the victim by means of recognizing his condition by checking his breathing or pulse.

They were also introduced to the necessary things to do especially in remote areas in the province. This includes activating medical assistance by calling for specific and most accessible local barangay health unit or RHU. However, in some emergency, it is best advised to call first for a specific medical advice before administering first aid.

Dr. Maria Teresa Beñas of the Philippine Information Agency, who served as a guest speaker in the training, said that the medical practitioners must imbibe that treating a patient should be done with utmost compassion and care and not be mandated by needless Standard Operating Procedures that delay prompt attendance to ailing patients.

“It is best that you treat first your dying patient before asking information about him. Don’t ask if he has money to pay the bills. Don’t impose on his birth date, his status, and spouse. Every second wasted may kill your patient. That is why you are called ERT to treat, not ask,” she said.

The activity was a follow-up training of the one held in Manabo in November 2012 and the recently held training in Bangued with the RHUs of San Quintin, La Paz, Tayum, and APH.

The Basic Life Support Training will continue to disseminate the knowhow on emergency preparedness to all the medical practitioners and volunteers in the province so that all Abrenians will be prepared in times of calamities. (JDP/Ginalyn Brioso/MTBB-PIA CAR, Abra)#
http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=111371436350