Dr. Ted Esguerra inaugurated Day 1 of the Ayala Foundation’s ‘Maging Handa: Upskilling Disaster Responders’ program by sharing his expertise on emergency preparedness and response at the People’s Center in Borongan City on October 3.
Esguerra, a doctor trained in disaster medicine and urban and wilderness rescue, began his lecture by instructing representatives from each table in the venue to simulate a flood evacuation.
He emphasized, “Calamity, before it strikes, we must be prepared. If you want to survive, you must prepare today,” as he addressed the group gathered near the stage.
Each representative was then tasked with leading the individuals in their respective areas, moving tables and chairs aside using only signals within six minutes, simulating a “flood” approaching within 10 minutes.
All participants, including students, teachers, barangay residents, local government unit personnel, and city disaster responders, successfully completed the exercise.
“The flood would come in, and I instructed you to evacuate. Clearly, with no hesitation. We have a good head start,” Esguerra noted.
Throughout the session, Esguerra simplified rescue concepts and demonstrated them through simulations to ensure that the participants fully grasped what might seem like complex, scientific topics.
At one point, participants engaged in a unique “dance,” making sweeping arm gestures, head movements, and kneeling on one knee – actions that could potentially save lives during an earthquake.
Esguerra introduced acronyms for better recall. Need to call for help in an emergency? Just remember “MEAWW,” similar to a cat’s meow: “Introduce myself, state the emergency, give the address, indicate when it happened, and identify the persons involved.” To conduct a trauma survey, recall “MARCH”: Check for massive hemorrhage, airway compromise, respiratory problems, circulatory compromise, head injuries, or hypothermia.
Esguerra explained, “I will simplify words for those who may not understand terms like ‘storm surge’ or ‘daluyong.’ I’ll just say it’s like a tsunami but caused by a storm. It’s not entirely accurate, but it conveys the idea. It’s like a tsunami. The only difference is that a tsunami is earthquake-generated or landslide-generated. But that’s what you’ll understand, and that’s what I’ll convey.”
“The song, a ballad, I’ll turn it into jazz, or even new wave to make it more relatable. But I’ll retain the melody. I’ll just change the genre. That’s how we adapt rescue. I’ll change the genre to fit the culture of the community,” he added.
The training approach is hazard-focused, culturally adaptable, and site-specific, a unique methodology developed by the Ayala Foundation team for the specific regions they visit.
With a high incidence of motorcycle accidents in Borongan City, Esguerra demonstrated how a person could perform self-assessment and self-rescue in the event of a motorcycle crash. Since tricycles are the common mode of transportation in the city, Esguerra taught how to properly position a patient within one and how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the vehicle’s confined space.
In case of floods, participants learned how to safely wade through the waters on their own or using bamboo. Teachers, who may need to cross flooded areas to reach their schools at times, learned how to navigate them properly using a rope. To treat burns, one could use Perla soap, raw honey, and cling wrap for first aid. Duct tape could also prove useful in addressing lacerations or eviscerations.
Esguerra stated, “This isn’t reliant on technology. We have enhancements and empowerment to make you operational with local resources and what’s available in your surroundings. You’ll realize this is it. I’ll enhance what’s around you; I won’t contradict it. We won’t change the culture; we’ll just stimulate the imagination of people to show what’s possible.”
“I’ll instill the idea that you can thrive with what you have. It doesn’t require rocket science to sustain life,” he added.
On Day 2, Esguerra introduced a life vest and stretchers made of bamboo, encouraging participants to take photos so they could replicate them themselves.
This is the knowledge he hopes to impart to the attendees, emphasizing that they can share this knowledge with others.
“Puwede nilang ituro kahit kanino,” Esguerra concluded.
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