Terminal workers undergo life-saving training

• Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2017/04/01/1686635/terminal-workers-undergo-life-saving-training
• Saturday, April 1, 2017 12:00 am

By Kristine B. Quintas (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The personnel of the Cebu South Bus Terminal underwent life-saving training programs in preparation for the expected influx of passengers who will spend the Holy Week in the provinces.

The three-day training conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Provincial Health Office last week aimed to capacitate the employees so they can immediately respond to emergency incidents at the terminal, CSBT Manager Joey Herrera said.

The CSBT management is expecting thousands of passengers from April 12 to April 16.

Herrera earlier said that the regular weekend trips have 650 bus trips with at least 29,250 passengers. Each bus trip has at least 45 passengers. CSBT has 300 buses in a regular day.

“Importante kaayo nga gi-train personnel about emergency response to immediately attend to those nakuyapan or naa’y disgrasya,” Herrera said.

PDRRMO Chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. said Governor Hilario Davide III saw the need to prepare employees for crisis situation at the province-run terminal, especially during the Lenten season when passengers will troop to CSBT.

“After our inspection and assessment in CSBT, the governor saw the need of having responders in the terminal so when the need arises, we already have the people to respond,” Tribunalo said.

The training, Tribunalo said, follows a ladderized module on Basic Life Support (BLS) and Basic First Aid (BFA) trainings, which are in line with the standards set by the Department of Health.

BLS outlines management of a number of conditions, such as cardiac arrest, choking and drowning.

The first aid, on the other hand, includes courses on initial intervention in a serious condition prior to professional medical help, such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while waiting for a rescue vehicle.

Qualified trainers from PDRRMO and CPHO will be evaluating the trainees’ performance.

PDRRMO Trainer Crista Hermosa said once the trainee passes the written and practical exam, they will be given a certification and identification card.

Prior to the training, participants underwent medical and physical examinations at the CPHO.

Aside from CSBT personnel, PDRRMO will also be training more employee-responders to achieve the target responders-to-population ratio.