BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance requiring all private and public establishments in the city to provide basic life support services by employing personnel trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) who can administer CPR and automated external defibrillators (AED) in the event a customer or client needs the same in their places of operation.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Elmer Datuin stated any establishment, whether government or private, shall employ trained first aid teams or personnel who can administer CPR and AED or other similar techniques, including the application of first aid and whose services shall always be available during working or office hours of the said establishment.
Further, each government or private building shall supply and maintain an AED device which shall be made available in case of emergencies and the AED should come with signage and maintained in an accessible location within the government and private buildings.
The ordinance stated the City Health Services Office (CHSO), will be tasked to monitor the strict implementation of the local legislative measure and it shall issue policies or guidelines and orient establishments on the implementation of the measure and thereafter, the implementing offices shall conduct regular inspection of all establishments for their compliance with the ordinance.
He noted pertinent provisions of the Local Government Code of the Philippines provides that a local government unit shall exercise such other powers and discharge such other functions and responsibilities as necessary, appropriate or incidental to efficient and effective provision of basic services and facilities such as health services which include the implementation of programs and projects on primary health care and the like.
Datuin claimed there are several factors that can lead to the unexpected cessation of an individual’s heartbeat or breathing such as blood infection, heart attack, simple accidents, which can happen anywhere at any time and chances of the situation being fatal can be reduced if someone can immediately administer CPR or AED.
Republic Act 10871, otherwise known as the Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act, requires all public and private schools in the country to educate students in providing basic life support through the use of psychomotor training in an age appropriate manner. Students should be taught to give COPR and basic life support in situations when someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest.
The late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago introduced two bills, the purpose of which is to provide adequate first aid care to victims of heart attacks and to train children to administer AED to increase the survival rate of victims of heart attack.
Datuin underscored all pertinent laws and pending measures before Congress must also be supported by the local government by requiring all establishments, whether private or public, to employ personnel who can provide CPR and administer AED in the event a client or customer needs said services.
By Dexter A. See
