Last October 25, a Disaster Risk Reduction Management Seminar, Training, Workshop or Practical was conducted at the University of Santo Tomas as part of the National Civic Service Training Course offered to second year and above. It was essentially discussed that ANYONE CAN HELP. It’s not about your social status. An ordinary person can help in extraordinary ways. According to Mr. Adrian Romero, our small NSTP actions, can make a great impact to change our nation.
It had also been discussed that the socio-economic conditions of the people is one of the reasons why disasters occurs. Disaster is a “serious disruption of the functioning of society causing widespread human, material, and environmental losses, which exceed the ability of the affected communities to cope using their own resources” (UNISDR, 2015). In short, any act of nature without the presence of man or of his property cannot be considered a disaster. It only becomes a disaster if it occurs in the area where man exists and lives. We can then equate disaster into destruction. According to Pope Francis, the increase in economic greediness also corresponds to the increase in Global Disaster. Disaster occurs when the negative effects of the hazards are not well-managed. What then is a hazard? A hazard is any phenomenon, substance or situation which has the possibility to cause disruption or damage to infrastructure and services, people, their property and environment. The three classifications of hazard are natural hazard, human induced hazard and environmental hazard. Natural hazard is the act of nature such as earthquake, tsunami and typhoon. The human induced hazard is the act of man or industrial incidents such as war, terrorism and fire. The environmental hazard is both an act of man and act of nature such as flood, ozone depletion and landslide. People who are exposed to these hazards are considered at risk. When we speak of risk, it is the probability that the negative consequences may arise when hazards interact with vulnerable areas, people, property and environment. People who are at risk are also vulnerable. The concept of vulnerability or weaknesses describes the factors of economic, social, physical or geographical nature which reduces the person’s ability to protect himself from these disasters. Economic vulnerability may be in the form of poverty. Social vulnerability on the other hand may be in the form of corruption in the government and discrimination in society. However, man must not just focus on his vulnerability for he has the capacity or strength to be able to mitigate the effects of disasters. Capacity is considered as the resources and skills which a person possesses, develops and mobilizes to be able to mold or shape his own future, helping him come up with disaster risks.
In terms of risk management, the traditional sense is the top-down approach. People are dependent on the help from the government. However, there had been a paradigm shift after the Typhoon Ondoy struck the country. From the initial top-down approach, it then became a participatory approach or a bibingka approach. The experts, professionals in the field of disaster managemt are educating the people so that they can be of help (even if they are ordinary citizens) during the occurrence of a disaster in our country. In the disaster risk reduction, all sectors of society are tasked to participate actively in the three phases which are the before phase (preparation and planing), during phase (rescue or first aid), and after phase (relief operation).
A PCVA Workshop was conducted after the concepts of Disaster Risk Reduction Management was discussed. Each group were able to list the hazards, vulnerabilities, capacities, and actions in their respective locations or addresses. In our group (C-AB-12, group 1), earthquake (as a natural hazard), and flood (as an environmental hazard was common), especially the areas in Quezon City and Manila. Geographic and natural vulnerability was common since some areas were low in elevation. Other than that, some areas are near the west valley fault. In terms of capacity, the presence of active barangay officials, sturdy foundations of buildings, and proper drainage system were among the advantages that are common in our group. As for the action, the members of the group believed that there is a need to call for assistance (experts). Other than that, there is also a need to store supplies such as food and any first aid kits in own houses or places. Besides the list, the group also did a hazard mapping wherein we draw our locations (which is in the National Capital Region) and plotted the sites where the hospitals, barangay halls, fire stations, etc. are located for easy access of help and evacuation in times of disasters.
On the course of the seminar, a game called “Tao-Bahay-Bagyo” was played. All the students are required to participate. The mechanics of the game goes this way: First, there should be three persons in a group. One person will act as “tao”, and two will act as “bahay”. When someone shouts “tao”, only the assigned “tao” (students acting as the people) will move and transfer to different “bahays” (students acting as houses). When someone shouts “Bahay”, only the “bahay” (students acting as houses) will move, and the “tao” (students acting as the people) will be stationary. On the contrary, when someone shouts “bagyo”, everyone shall move and the former “bahay” shall be a “tao”, and vice versa. Basically, it meant that in the occurrence of a disaster such as bagyo or typhoon, everything will be affected (person and even the house). What the people shall do is to move, and not just merely stay put. He must act not just to save himself or his property but also his community.
In the Philippine setting, we are exposed to various disasters. Yet, oftentimes we believe in the power of Filipino resilience. On the contrary, we do not know that this Filipino resilience has a negative connotation. Resilience meant the ability to bounce back after being bent or stretched. It can be associated to a bamboo who can likewise do the same. Filipino resilience meant that people, after experiencing the effects of disaster are getting back to their condition of being vulnerable and poor. Thus, it disables them to fully fight back these conditions that gravely affect their lives. It is extremely important to address the issue of disasters in our country for we are not just merely going to adapt with what is going on. We need to fight back. There is a need to fight the structural causes of poverty. Let’s stop focusing our attention to the capitalist industries. Rather, we must look into our marginalized sectors. Two years ago, during the occurrence of Typhoon Yolanda, a lot of lives and livelihood had been taken away. Until now, people in the Visayan Region are still suffering and their suffering will not cease to exist if we will continuously neglect their situation. We are so confined with the idea that everyone wants change. Yet, we ourselves do not want to change. Let all the past disasters be a lesson for us to turn our mistakes into correct ones.
They say, actions are far better than words. Yet, without words, we cannot determine the actions that we are to do. Our government has a vital role in promulgating the information with regard to disaster risk reduction management planning. They should have relevant programs and projects that will address the issues in our society especially in terms of disaster preparedness. Our government themselves should be organized and systematized from the first to the last phase. We, the citizens, on the other hand, must actively particapate. There’s no other time but now. We must act now for disasters can happen any day. We must not constatly take for granted the days that we are safe. Rather, we shall use these days in order for us to properly prepare for disasters. Small actions can make a difference. For instance, keeping in mind the three things to do such as “Duck, Hold, Cover” during an earthquake will be of help. Moreover, we must conduct constant drills in our own communities. Other than that, since the elections is fast approaching, we must elect the deserving candidates to be our government officials. We deserve a government whose primary goal is to safeguard and to good care of the welfare of the people in any way possible. Let us remember that all of us will be a victim if we will let ourselves be ignorant of what is going on. “There’s no harm in hoping for the best, as long as we’re prepared for the worst” (Stephen King). Let us be superheroes in our own ways for in the end, if our main objective is to save someone, we are becoming what we are supposed to be – stewards of God’s creation.
FIRST-AID AND BASIC LIFE SUPPORT
First, you must assess the situation. You must ensure your safety and the safety of the victim. In assessing the victim, you must check for falling debris. If you’re alone, you can call an ambulance. If you’re with someone/bystanders around you, you may instruct them to help you. We need to empower other people to help. Second, you must call for help (medical assistance). You must state your name, exact location, your number, the situation at hand, and the number of victims. Third, you must instruct the helpers to get the materials. Fourth, if it’s safe to help, check the victim’s consciousness. Fifth, if there's still no response from the victim, you have to do the CPR. According to the American Heart Association, there’s a possibility that unconscious victims are in cardiac arrest.
CPR:
Compression – act of pushing hard on a person’s chest (center of the chest). Usually, 100 compressions are done per minute with constant rhythm and tempo.
Reason: to pump the heart for resuscitation
Within 5 minutes that you weren’t able to give compression, the victim may die.
Within 10 minutes, the victim may not be revived anymore.
Airway – every minute, you must check the airway (if there’s air coming out of the person’s nostrils or mouth). For checking of airway, first, head tilt, then chin lift. If there is a liquid obstruction of airway (blood, vomit, phlegm), you shall let the obstruction spill. If it’s solid, use a clean handkerchief to take it out. Check also for rise and fall of the chest. If there’s an absence of it, do continuous compression.
Breathing – for strangers, you do not necessarily need to give “breathing”. This can be done to your family, relatives or people whom you personally know. First, you must clip the nose, inhale, then give breathing through the victim’s mouth. The early sign of life may be in a form of breathing, rise and fall of the chest, and pulse. If any of these are present, you may stop the CPR especially if the hospital rescue team is already there. If ever the victim chokes, place one’s hand (firmly pulling) in upper abdomen until he vomits the solid substance.
UNSAFE SITUATION: If the victim is a bit conscious but unable to move properly (without a spine board / stretcher) use a blanket and attach it to two stable poles to carry the victim to a safer place. Shirts may also be allowed, by placing the poles in the holes of the sleeves of the shirts.
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