PGLU Levels Up Emergency Preparedness
By: Marjorie Ann R. Lucero, GPC-PHO and Christine Paulette P. Navarro, PDRRMO | Photo By: Marjorie Ann R. Lucero, GPC-PHO | Date: January 21-24, 2020
LIFTING, MOVING RESCUE TECHNIQUES. Participants apply their learnings on proper lifting and moving of heavy objects on the second day of the Earthquake, Landslide Search and Rescue Orientation Course held on January 21 to 22, 2020 at Wallace Air Station, City of San Fernando, La Union. The same training was conducted on January 23 to 24, 2020 participated in by different provincial disaster preparedness offices and national line agencies in La Union.
Being identified as susceptible to certain geological hazards such as earthquake and landslide, the Province of La Union through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) headed by Provincial Health Officer Dr. Eduardo S. Posadas conducted an extensive two-day Earthquake, Landslide Search and Rescue Orientation Course (ELSAROC) in two batches on January 21 to 22, 2020 and January 23 to 24, 2020 at Wallace Air Station, City of San Fernando, La Union.
The ELSAROC was conducted in partnership with the Metro Manila Development Authority Public Safety Division and Pharmaceutical and Health Association of the Philippines Cares Foundation.
The first batch were participated in by the PHO, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Philippine Air Force while participants from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Security Services Unit, Provincial Engineering Office, and Provincial General Services Office were part of the second batch.
The first day of the course focused on the theories and actual applications of Hazard and Disaster Management which focused on Collapsed Structures Search and Rescue Operations; Fundamental Concepts and Techniques of Collapsed Search and Rescue Operations; and Extricating and Caring of Victims on Collapsed Structures. On the second day, the participants showcased their acquired knowledge through hands-on exercises on familiarization of tools and equipment used in collapsed structure search and rescue operations; hailing techniques; lifting and moving techniques; and victim extrication and stabilization. The said training established an avenue for the different line agencies to strengthen inter-operability among other line agencies and for them to recognize their roles and function in disaster response.
Trainings and simulation exercises are activities under disaster preparedness which aims to improve emergency preparedness, increase level of awareness, enhance capacity of the community to the threats and impacts of all hazards, and establish an effective plan for preparedness and response at the organizational level to mitigate the impact of disasters.
