BONTOC, Mountain Province – At least 30 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members and social workers residing in Barangay Caluttit of this municipality are now equipped with necessary Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) knowledge, skills and attitude; and are prepared to respond should there be emergency cases.
This, following the conduct of a three-day Basic DRRM, Basic Life Support (BLS) and First Aid Training spearheaded by the barangay government of Caluttit through its SK and the Bontoc municipal government through its Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) on August 25- 27, 2018.
Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Johanna F. Padaen relayed that Caluttit SK Chairperson Enver W. Caluza made a request to the municipal government through its MDRRMO for the latter to conduct a BLS training through a cost-sharing scheme.
Recognizing that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow and are partners of the government in building a disaster–resilient community, Bontoc Mayor Franklin C. Odsey immediately approved the request. Caluttit barangay provided P20,000 while the municipal government shelled out P25,000.00 as its counterpart for the training. Other materials needed in the training were borrowed from Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital (LHMRH) and Red Cross-Mountain Province Chapter.
Padaen underscored that the training aimed to strengthen the involvement of the youth on DRRM activities; empower them with the information and skills to help communities in times of crisis; and intensify their leadership skills to attain a resilient community.
In his message, Mayor Odsey commended the barangay officials of Caluttit for the initiative to coordinate with the municipal government to train SK members and other groups in their respective barangay to be their partners in disaster prevention, preparedness, and response.
With this, he challenged the participants to focus on the lectures of the facilitators, adding that learning is always a continuous process.
“The knowledge and skills that you will acquire from this training will surely help save your lives, the lives of your families and the lives of people not only in your respective barangays but in all the places you will go,” Odsey emphasized.
Topics included are Principle of Emergency Cases and Introduction to Basic Life Support, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Demonstration on CPR, Foreign Body Airway Obstruction Management and Rescue Breathing due to Respiratory Arrest, Demonstration on Foreign Airway Body Obstruction, Basic First Aid Lecture, Bandaging Techniques using Triangular Bandage, Bandaging Techniques using Elastic Bandage, Splinting Techniques, Patient Packing and Transport, Rescue Carries, Basic Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Fire Matters.
After the lectures, the participants underwent return demonstrations on CPR and Foreign Airway Body Obstruction. Also, simulation exercises to include Skills Examinations on CPR; Skills Examination on Foreign Airway Body Obstruction; Soft tissue and burn injury management; Splinting and Rescue carries; Patient packing and transport; and Fire suppression were performed by the participants.
As per assessment by the facilitators, the participants gave their attention and time during the lectures and demonstrations, thus, they were able to properly execute what they have learned.
Participants who gave their impressions admitted that the training was an eye-opener to them and made them realize that responding to emergencies in times of disaster is not an easy task. They remarked that a responder must be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills; must have presence of mind; and must focus on attending to patients even under pressure.
Related to this, the participants unanimously expressed their gratitude to the barangay officials of Caluttit and the municipal government for the opportunity given to them to be trained on Basic DRRM, BLS and First Aid Training.
The facilitators are the members of the Bontoc Emergency Response Team (BERT), personnel of the MDRRMO, Bontoc Municipal Fire Station and Red Cross- Mountain Province Chapter.
By Alpine L. Killa
