Who will Respond during Emergencies?

Non-Functional Emergency Response System

 Community Health Problem #2  

            Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. Immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest. This technique can be used when victims appear to be choking, drowning, unconscious or suffering from cardiac arrest. 

          During the survey that the team conducted, results revealed that the Emergency Response System in Barangay Motibot is non-functional. Residents verbalized that there is no consistent system that the Barangay follows when it comes to transport and management of emergencies considering that houses from sectors 5-7 are far from the main road. Even the officials admitted that they do not follow certain guidelines to address the emergency needs of the residents. Whereas, the officials themselves are aware that they have personal duties and jobs to attend to that disables them to attend to every emergency that occurs in the Barangay. Currently, whenever emergencies occur, no one is in charge in assuring the transport of the patient, thus, whoever is available and is willing to aid in transporting the patient does the job. Even with the presence of a vehicle for transport, still, no one mans the vehicle and does not serve the purpose of its existence. Also, the Barangay Health Workers who manage the health center does not have any training in saving lives – even basic life support.  

          This problem, the non-functional emergency response system, was included in the top 10 perceived problems of the people of Barangay Motibot. During the prioritization, it ranked 2nd among eight problems. 

          Our team aims to establish the Barangay Motibot Emergency Response System (BMERS) Program by year 2022 to address this problem. In this program, BMERS core team will be established where officers will be elected. Emergency Management Plan (EMP) will also be established to have an emergency response flowchart where team members’ job description will be specified. Of course, knowledge and skills on appropriate emergency  management of the BMERS Core Team and the community people as a whole will be supplemented through lectures and training. Information drive will also be conducted to disseminate hotline numbers and the BMERS EMP. Also, the group intends to partner with various organizations. Red Cross will be coordinated to conduct the lecture and training on Basic Life Support and other first aid measures. The group also intends to coordinate with other organizations for the provision of other medical equipment needed. The Barangay Motibot Council will be responsible with other matters especially with the sustainability of the BMERS Program after four years and beyond. 

          This particular community health problem is indeed not easy to address but is with utmost importance. A lot of effort will be needed to successfully establish the Barangay Motibot Emergency Response System (BMERS) Program. Whereas, we, the Team Motibot, are willing to do whatever it takes to make the people of Barangay Motibot live in a better, healthier, and safer Barangay. 

SAKUR IBRAHIM

ADZU-SOM