Health Secretary Francisco Duque III Monday called on everyone to support and actively participate in disaster preparedness initiatives so they would know what to do in case of disaster or emergency, particularly Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
“It may mean life or death for you or your loved ones,” said Duque, adding this year, the Department of Health would focus on empowering everyone, in coordination with various groups, in performing the hands-only CPR.
Duque noted this CPR did not involve mouth-to-mouth breaths. He said this was easy to learn and remember.
“It can save lives in instances when a person suddenly collapses and another person performs this intervention until professional medical responders arrive at the scene,” said Duque.
Since heart attacks (myocardial infarction) tops the leading cause of death in the Philippines and even worldwide, Duque said CPR was a way of providing emergency response to prevent deaths from occurring if delivered immediately after cardiac arrest by anyone, anytime, anywhere.
He noted that a 50 percent survival rate ensued among victims before advance medical help arrived.
“This initiative characterizes a high-impact advocacy activity as part of the spectrum of capacity development interventions that DoH can offer to LGUs,” said Duque.
While health governance is critical in driving the health resilience agenda, he said it was “equally important to harness the strengths and potentials of the LGUs to build their own resilience during calamities and disasters at the community level.”
Other significant undertakings during the observance of July as National Disaster Resilience Month, include assessment of DoH buildings on Fire Code compliance and its subsequent commendation, simulation exercises or table top exercises, and the conduct of a dissemination forum.
Aside from CPR, the DoH has scheduled for the month activities which include mass demonstration in San Mateo, Rizal, a Disaster Risk Reduction Management in Health Research Summit, Incident Command System-Executive Course, among others. Macon Ramos-Araneta