TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, July 19 (PIA) -- The Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management (PDRRM) Office is eyeing to train at least two members of each Boholano household on basic first aid and resuscitation, considering the critical time needed for emergency response in cases of heart attacks and other health emergencies. 

Speaking during the Kapihan sa PIA on Disaster Resilience and Mitigation to mark the annual Disaster Resilience Month in July, the Bohol PDRRM head Jose Requeron shared his vision of having two trained household members to respond during emergencies.

Requeron’s dream may also jibe with the Department of Health’s report that among the country’s top killers are heart diseases, cardio-vascular diseases, and trauma caused by accidents.

In cases of cardiac arrests, a trained emergency responder who is able to properly perform a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can significantly extend the chances of a patient, responders bared.

In emergency cases when a person faints or stops breathing, the first five minutes could spell the difference between life and death of a patient, as one has to make sure a fair amount of oxygen gets to the brain.

Deprivation of oxygen to the brain can lead to death. 

Resuscitation especially that of the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be easily taught and could make a difference, said Darwin Bernasor of the PDRRMO's executive arm and provincial rescue group,  Bohol’s Telephone and Radio Systems Integrated Emergency Response 117 (TARSIER 117). 

The PDRRM and TARSIER 117 are putting in place some training mechanisms to equip municipal disaster teams with the capability to respond to disasters, including medical emergencies and trauma incidents.

TARSIER 117 has at least two standard first aid trainings for groups and local government disaster teams, and a menu of other trainings including Incident Command Systems, Safety of Life at Sea, Water Rescue, as well as the crafting of Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Plans for local government units, Requeron added.

Now also in the towns of Talibon, Ubay Jagna, Carmen, Balilihan and Loon, satellite TARSIER sub-officers are already in strategic locations training catchment town disaster teams on disaster reduction and mitigation as well as disaster resilience.

With a Unified Command Center soon to open in Tagbilaran City, responding to disasters and mitigating its effects can be largely acted upon. 

Already setting up Pre-Disaster Risk Assessments and Post Disaster evaluation, the mechanism has also allowed prepositioning of relief goods and clearing equipment to make sure that access to services remain open during disasters. 

This year’s Disaster Resilience Month theme, “Tamang Pamamahala’t Kahandaan, Kaalaman at Pagtutulungan sa Sakuna at Pandemya’y Kalasag ng Bayan,” also guides the PDRRM in its mission for resilient communities in Bohol. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)