Filipinos urged to learn CPR

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang said about 70,000 out of 119 million Filipinos suffer from cardiac arrest and only 1 percent are given CPR. (Pexels Photo)

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday called on Filipinos to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to become first responders in times of emergency where every second counts.

In a media forum coinciding with the National CPR Day, DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said CPR bridges the gap between life and the loss of it during a cardiac arrest as its administration causes the heart to beat again.

“In the high-income countries, the CPR training rate is up to 50 percent, still low if you think of it, but in other countries including the Philippines, it is much lower, maybe it is only two out of 10 people, 23 percent,” he said.

He said cerebral perfusion or the delivery of blood to the brain is affected when the heart stops beating, causing brain damage.

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang said about 70,000 out of 119 million Filipinos suffer from cardiac arrest and only 1 percent are given CPR.

“In 2014, Samboy Lim, a basketball player, while stretching, he collapsed. When he collapsed, no one, unfortunately was there, who was able to provide CPR to him,” she said.

“He was brought to the hospital after 23 minutes, fortunately, he was alive, but was in coma (comatose) for several years.”

Pang said Lim’s comatose period could have been shortened if he were given CPR within 5 minutes following his collapse.

Philippine Heart Association president Rodney Jimenez said they support the DOH and the PRC in promoting life-saving skills and CPR training.

He said the PHA has its CPR ready advocacy since 2015 and CPR Wings and Wheels where hands only CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) skills are taught.

“We are trying to institutionalize BLS (basic life support) training with AED amongst the first responders, the police, the teachers, the barangay health workers. Also, with the help of our partners, we’re trying to lobby the AED Law, now we’re able to speak with Congressman Richard Gomez, Senator Bong Go, Senator Lito Lapid, Nancy Binay and Congressman Ciriaco Gado Jr.,” he added.

Citing that early CPR has increased survival rate from 31 percent to 62 percent among out-of-the-hospital setting cardiac arrest cases in Southeast Asia, American Heart Association regional faculty Vicente de Lima Jr. said every Filipino could learn about CPR through the establishment training kiosks in strategic areas like schools and local government units.

Domingo said the DOH offers basic life support didactic e-course which can be accessed by anyone with internet connection.

“Magtipon-tipon siguro ‘yung mga offices ‘yung mga grupo-grupo sa mga barangay (Groups in offices and barangays may gather together). You can invite the DOH Health Emergency Managemment Bureau through email, that is free, service of the DOH, they have trainers,” he said.

On March 27, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared July 17 of every year as the National CPR Day under Proclamation 511 to promote national health awareness among Filipinos.