Barangay Binasaran is one of the farthest barangays in Malibcong, Abra where basic services such as health care and emergency response are very hard to access. In cases of emergencies, fast and structured response and patient management are crucial for every patient’s outcome. In order to manage common emergencies, community members should possess basic knowledge on emergency care and have the necessary skills in dealing with emergency situation. Thus, partner peoples’ organizations namely Binasaran Farmers and Community Organization (BFCO) and Manapnap Farmers and Community Organization (MFCO) requested for a First Aid and Basic Life Support Training to capacitate their respective community members in times of emergencies.
CorDisRDS together with Community Health Education, Services and Trainings in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE) conducted the First Aid and Basic Life Support Training in sitio Binasaran Proper and Manapnap on April 12-13, 2022 and April 17 and 19, 2022 respectively. The trainings were attended by participants from different sectors in the community.
Participants from Sitio Binasaran Proper after the FA and BLS Training
The two-day trainings provided community members the basic knowledge and necessary skills to respond to emergencies like choking, drowning and cardiac arrest to adult, child and infant patients. Participants appreciated the demonstration and discussion on how to perform the Heimlich maneuver to a choking patient and how to perform an effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). One participant from sitio Binasaran Proper namely Charity Molina said: “Mayat ta nag adal tayo nu kasano iti CPR ta amo tayu ti ar aramiden tayo nu man ada aksidente wenu ada ma CPR, nangruna ket adayu iti pag agasan wennu RHU nga pangipapanan iti pasyente” (It’s good that we learned how to perform CPR because if there was an accident and someone needs CPR, we know how to handle the patient first since the RHU is far from our barangay.)
Mr. Roque Molina demonstrates how to check patients ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) and how to do CPR during the return demo of the FA and BLS Training in Sitio Binasaran Proper
The training also taught the participants to recognize and care for different first aid emergencies such as cuts or wounds, burns, bone dislocation and fractures. Proper usage of a triangular bandage, proper knotting and splinting was also demonstrated and discussed during the trainings. One participant from sitio Manapnap namely Angel Tumalip from the youth sector said: “Napangato ti kaamuak ditoy nga training, Naadal ko nu kasanu ag bandage ken ag ala iti BP usar ti BP app. As a student ket ma I apply ko ti naadal ko nu man ada ti agkasapulan ti tulong” (I learned a lot during the training, I learned how to do bandaging and how to get Blood Pressure using the BP apparatus. As a student I can apply what I learned whenever there is someone who needs help.)
Participants from Sitio Manapnap conducting how to bandage using traingular badages during the Training
During the trainings, an orientation on Covid-19 homecare and prevention was also discussed. Getting vital signs was also discussed and demonstrated and the participants were given time to learn how to get blood pressure using the BP apparatus. Animal and insect bites were also discussed which clarified some of the questions from the participants regarding traditional practices like “Tandok” and use of herbal medicines to treat such bites.
Mr. Felix Cadangan checking his Pulse Rate during the Vital Signs discussion
The training was successfully conducted in the barangay with the help of the partner communities for being participants who actively joined return demonstrations and lively discussions. They also expressed their gratitude for the activity, a BHW from Sitio Manapnap namely Hylie Rica Ortega said: “Dagiti topics nga naisuro ket importante nga maadal nangnangruna kadakami nga ada ti health sector ta haan nga expectaren nga adan tu ti mapasamak nga didigra ken emergencies ket amo tayon nga ag FA kn BLS” (The topics that we learned are very important especially for us in the health sector because we cannot expect disasters and emergencies and when such events happen we know how to do FA and BLS)
Ms. Hylie Rica Ortega conducting CPR during the return demo of the FA and BLS Training
The support from CorDisRDS and CHESTCORE, for being a resource persons during the training and the support for Baguio CDRRMO for lending resuscitation dummies that was used during the discussions and return demonstrations were a great help in the successful First Aid and Basic Life Support Training.
Ms. Rayne Gallawen from CHESTCORE demonstrating the proper way of performing CPR to a patient