LIFE SAVING. Dr. Louella Quijano, of the Philippine Heart Association demonstrates to Citom personel how to apply cardio-pulmonary rescucitation using a manikin. (CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)
Traffic and parking aides of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) underwent a quick seminar on basic life support at the Plaza Independencia yesterday morning.
The seminar, organized by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) as part of their culminating activity for Heart Month 2014, targeted to train about 150 traffic personnel.
PHA Cebu president Dr. Wilfredo Ypil said that the seminar aimed to equip them with the skills to handle emergency situations on the road while waiting for para-medics.
They are the ones on the streets. If something happens, they can be the ones to respond quickly,” said Ypil.
Dr. Louella Quijano, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) committee chairperson of PHA Cebu, gave a lecture on giving CPR and afterwards had the trainees practiced what they have learned on medical training manikins.
Albino Tejamo, a traffic aide for 24 years, said he will be able to use the things he learned while on duty in the streets.
“Kami man gud kasagaran makasugat og aksidente unya lain kaayo sa buot nga wala mi mabuhat kung naay matumba. Manawag ra sa ERUF ug maghuwat (We are the ones who witness road accidents most of the time and it makes me feel really bad not to do anything when someone goes unconscious. We call ERUF and just wait),” said Tejamo.
After the seminar, Tejamo said he is more confident that he can now respond to road accidents.
Before Cebu, the PHA has also conducted a basic life support seminar for traffic personnel of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Other activities conducted by the PHA yesterday were a free 2-hour Zumba session, a forum on healthy living and a jump rope competition participated by kids and teens.