Trained to Serve!
Good day beautiful people with beautiful souls!
I was quite adamant whether I’m going to feature in my post the happenings just this week. It was the day when Typhoon Goreng really lashed out its fury in our island. The same day that we had started our three (3) days and two (2) nights Medical Responder Training, which we planned before the typhoon strikes, knowing that it gonna be a long week end.
As it is, all seems to be quiet during the day, although there’s continued reports and weather forecast on its imminent landfall, our activities for the day continued without a hitch. We have training on Ambulance Operations and Patient Handling, wherein our City’s DRRM personnel take charge in giving such great instructions. The participants were so engrossed with the activity especially the practical assessment on how to transport casualty from the scene using the spine board and stretcher, loading the patient correctly to the ambulance. Different scenarios were given for the participants to perform the proper way of lifting and moving casualty. It was a tiring, yet rewarding day for a start!
In the afternoon of the first day, the participants were divided into four (4) teams for their practical test on Patient Assessment, Vital Signs, Emergency Transport and Soft Tissue and Musculoskeletal injury. Every stations were handled by Officers of REACT Team CL 01. These were selected personnel who had a working knowledge of the subjects that they were handling, this is also their specialization, thus a thorough equipping was provided to the new recruits or the participants.
Late in the afternoon before dinner, a team building activities were conducted as well by the REACT Team Training Staff. It was a fun games replete with new insights and learning. This team building activities aims to create camaraderie, esprit de corps and discipline among recruits. Such character traits must be developed among team members so that in the eventuality of emergencies, they can response in a moment notice, as a cohesive and united team, where each one knows their functions and responsibilities in the team.
Late in the evening, in spite of the hectic schedules and no breathers, they were again tossed into heavier instructions, like the saying, from the frying pan into the fire. An AHA certified BLS Provider Instructor put their mettle to test during the practical of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The participants really enjoyed the instructions and even had the time to create their memes all about the activity.
The first heavy downpour was experienced in the evening until early morning. In spite of the downpour very early at 2 o clock in the morning, the whistle blows for the beginning of the SIMEX. Two teams were put into the SIMEX room for the Collapsed Structure scenario, where they have to retrieve a casualty at zero visibility.
The scenario allows them to really use their critical thinking skills in making swift and correct decision, developing the character of decisiveness, which is one paramount character of a Rescue Technician, because every decision made, may be the difference between life or death. It was a rigorous and exacting activity, which leads to the disqualifications of some participants, yet rewarding as well for those who passed.
The second day of the training was more on skills acquisition and practical assessment, especially during their Firefighting Techniques. Since I have a Radio Program that day (EDUKA-LIDAD sa Radyo) Radio Bandera Sweet FM, every Sunday 10 - 11am. I just left the recruits to the care of the Training Staff. I’ve heard afterward that they have so much fun!
The afternoon session was so heavy because it tackles the ICS (Incident Command System) which was very theoretical, yet at the same time very essential!
Evening session was another story, it was our Rescue Night, wherein the participants have to organize a program and feature their talents, dancing, singing and even acting. It was also their Acceptance Ceremony, a simple ceremony of being accepted into the REACT TEAM Organization. Frolic nights and their becoming rolled into one! Then in the middle of the activity, all hell breaks out, the place where we stayed was buffeted by strong winds and heavy downpour which flooded the surrounding areas. We have heard that many Barangays were flooded and families were caught in the middle of the flood and needed to be evacuated. Some rescuers were actually deployed to help with the evacuation.
Since it was in the middle of the night, I did not deploy the team to augment the rescue personnel. It was early morning that I decided to deploy two teams, of which one team was assigned to help vacate families that were not able to go out of their flooded houses due to the rising flood water. Another team was requested by the DRRMO Head to be assigned at the DRRM Office to pack relief goods for the families affected by flood. While these things were going on, other participants continued with the training in spite of the typhoon. The Vehicular Accident Patient Extrication (VAPE) was conducted in the middle of a rain shower. Participants had a hands on experience during the activity, on patient extrication and handling of patient for transfer to a medical facility.
In the last session of the afternoon, a Multiple Casualty Incident (MCI) scenario was conducted coupled with Collapsed Structure Scenario. In this situation, all learning and skills acquired during the training were applied, and assessed by the Training Staff. In the end, out of 83 who undergo an on- boarding process and intensive training only 16 finished with flying colors. A demonstration that the training to be part of the REACT TEAM, is not for the fainthearted. Only for those who have the passion to “Train and to Serve,” survives!
One reason I post these activities in the HIVE community, that if there are teachers here, leaders who would like to empower their students, young people or community through training on disaster risk reduction management, our team are much willing to help train and equipped them with life skills.
Thank you so much for giving a precious part of your time to peruse over my post.
Life is beautiful. Enjoy it to the fullest! Carpe Diem!