Photo By Capt. Morgan Frazer | ORMOC, Philippines – U.S. Navy Lt. Derek Chamberlain takes a selfie with Ormoc...... read more read more
Subscribe
“We learn from the U.S. and from the programs they bring to us,” said Gomez. “These engagements really help out the community and bring people together. Medical is a big priority in a place like this.”
The Basic Medical First Responder’s Course is designed to provide non-medics with the knowledge to respond to incidents within the community. The course included an array of topics, ranging from handling spinal injuries, to administering CPR, to demonstrating various carrying techniques.
“The expectation is that the course participants will be able to go out into the community and be confident in their abilities to save a life,” said course presenter U.S. Navy LT Derek Chamberlain, U.S. MARFORPAC. “If an incident does occur, they now have the education and can put the skills to use.”
Chamberlain coordinates with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Health to determine locations that are in need of assistance. Disasters like Typhoon Haiyan provide an example of why the course is beneficial; however, the location is based on an overall need.
“On average, we see 360 patients per day, including outpatient, inpatient and the emergency room,” said Doctor Maria Lourdes, Chief of Ormoc City District Hospital. “The priority need for the hospital is manpower and improvements like beds and laboratory equipment.”
The hospital serves multiple municipalities, including Kananga, Albuera, Merida, Albuera, and Ormoc City. With the knowledge gained from the course, the hospital staff can educate the community on basic life-saving skills that can alleviate some of the constraints on manpower.
Registered nurses from the hospital were enthusiastic about imparting this knowledge to the community.
“If there is a motor vehicle accident in the community, the first people on the scene are the people who live in the area,” said Anne Asumbrado, a registered nurse at Ormoc District Hospital. “Through this course, we can provide awareness to the local people, so that when the responder arrives at the scene he can save a life, rather than pronounce the victim dead.”
Bilateral exchanges between the U.S. and the Philippines such as the Basic Medical First Responder’s Course enhance the ability to respond quickly to provide relief and assistance to local communities.
The U.S. has conducted one other first responder’s course and is scheduled to conduct an additional course later this year.
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2016 11:34 |
| Story ID: | 203584 |
| Location: | ORMOC/TACLOBAN, PH |
| Hometown: | NEWBERRY, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, U.S. shares knowledge on first responder skills at local hospital in the Philippines, by CPT Morgan Frazer, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
