VSU spearheads BLS training for lay rescuers and health care providers

Seventy-six lay rescuers and health care providers attended the Basic Life Support (BLS) Training at the Convention Center of the Visayas State University (VSU) on March 14-16, 2012. This was spearheaded by the Office of the Director for Administration and Human Resource Development (ODA-HRD) and the VSU Hospital. The participants came from the hospital, Security Force Office, College of Nursing, dormitory advisers, laboratory personnel and service providers of VSU, and the City Health Office of Baybay. The seven-man training team, on the other hand, were BLS trainers headed by Dr. Fidelita Dico, Coordinator of the Regional Health Management Service of the Department of Health Regional Office (DOH 8).

During the first day, the participants were given inputs regarding the principles of emergency health care, the basic life support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), automated external defibrillator (AED), foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) and rescue breathing. This was followed by an examination to determine the knowledge gained by the participants. Since this is equivalent to 30 percent of the total percentage required for the participants to pass the BLS training, those who failed in the examination were given a removal exam.

The second and the third day were devoted to the practical examination, which is equivalent to 60 percent of the total score of the participants. The remaining 10 percent was allotted for the participant's attitude towards the undertakings related to the training.

Dr. Dico, on the other hand, thanked the VSU administration for taking the initiative to conduct the BLS Training among its constituents and for inviting the health care providers of Baybay City to the activity. However, she said that the BLS trained rescuers must apply what they have learned, given the opportunity, so that they won't forget about it. She also suggested that both Baybay City and the VSU group must create a team who shall undergo the advanced BLS to become trainers themselves so they can also train others.

Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, Vice President for Planning and Resource Generation, in his closing remarks, said that spearheading the BLS training was a good initiative for VSU because the CPR and the FBAO are two common skills that everybody must know because opportunities are always there to help others. Thus, he thanked the group of Dr. Dico for sharing these life-saving emergency procedures to the participants of the said training. However, he said to the trained rescuers, "I just hope that when the time comes, you will all be confident to do it." Dr. Asanza, on the other hand, reminded them that, "Since we are dealing with life, we have to start right to end up right."

The participants received a certificate of completion and an identification card, which, according to Dr. Dico, may be used as a passport but must be updated every two years.

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