FIRST RESPONDERS - THE EVERYDAY HEROES

Many people’s husbands, wives, sons, daughters, and family are first responders. This may mean they are a police officer, a firefighter, an emergency medical technician, an ambulance driver, in the military, or even one of many, many support services that keep all these occupations  operating. Whoever the first responder is, they put a lot on the line and there’s generally no argument about that.

When Typhoon Sendong hit the region of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan and nearby provinces, local governments and the local residents were caught unprepared. Local government officials blamed the weather bureau for their failure to give appropriate warnings and forecasts. The typhoon was not that strong but the rain that Sendong poured  equalled to 1 month of rainfall. As of the 19^th of December 2011, the death toll rose to 652 people and still counting. There were at least 900 people who went missing. Massive flooding (flash floods and mudslides) in several cities and provinces caused the deaths of many residents.  

The update on the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong last December 27, 2011: 

- the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported a total of 1,080 deaths and 1,979 are still missing.

-  authorities estimated that the total fatalities in the Typhoon Sendong could reach 3,000 deaths. 

With the number of dead bodies found, coffins were not enough and local officials suggested that local saw mills help them solve this problem. It was estimated that billions worth of infrasture and agriculture were damaged by Typhoon Sendong. There were more than 35,000 families who were in temporary shelters who needed food and clothings.Sendong was one of the worst typhoon to hit the Philippines.

Unknown to many, the members of Compass Emergency Assistance Service Team, Inc. was among the first responders who went to Iligan City to render their services to the refugees and victims of Typhoon Sendong under the banner of ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Relief Operations Project. No, we will never know any of their contributions to the communities because it was never in the media. The Compass EAST Team have made commitments to put the safety and welfare of others ahead of themselves. They did not receive any financial compensation for the 5 days they were away from their own homes in Davao City. They are, no doubt, the everyday heroes of our world.

But I guess, most of us never realized what exactly the families of some of these first responders go through.Would you know how a wife or a girlfriend feels kissing her husband or boyfriend  who is in law enforcement  goodbye  each morning and not knowing what the day will bring? I have watched  and  heard the stories of  Sept. 11 and I have wept  my heart out for those who lost their loved ones – the first responders -  during that tragic day. The pain I  felt  can never equal to the pain these families must have felt upon losing the first responders who have sacrificed their lives so that others may live. In so doing, these first responders have left behind their wives, husbands, sons, daughters, friends and relatives in grief.

When members of the Compass EAST Team left for Iligan City to help victims of Typhoon Sendong, I understood the burden of responsibilities that fell upon the families of these first responders. As a first responder, they took it upon themselves to take care of everyone else’s families. 

When Typhoon Pablo hit Davao Oriental, members of Compass EAST Team were again sent to Baganga for ABS-CBN’s Sagip Kapamilya Relief Operations. Their services are all voluntary and no financial compensation were received for these community services  in their desire to  serve those who need their help. Some even have to hitch rides just to reach the assembly area prior to deployment to Baganga.  These are not known to all because there is no media covering their sacrifices and great service to the community.

In one of my meetings with Compass EAST Team, one member told me that his dad used to  crap him for most days , most of the time for not being home because he was always involved in community services. When he showed his dad the FB page of Asia's Emergency Medical Services Institute, Inc. featuring Compass EAST and the AEMS Community EMS Program, it was with pride that his dad told him " I finally understood why you are never home most of the time." 

Another member goes home to Calinan, Davao City, once a week because he has to man their base at Brgy. Baliok. Mind you, these guys are not receiving any monthly salary for their services to their community. Each of them tries to find other jobs on the side to support their daily needs.  If they are lucky, they get hired in some events in Davao City to serve as MFR's (Medical First Responders). 

A younger member of 18 who was a college drop out, told me that Compass EAST was a big influence in his life from avoiding peers who would have dragged him to becoming a drug addict instead of what he is now, a productive member of his community. This young man  barely sees his parents and siblings because he was always at Compass EAST's base. He added his grandmother in the US and his parents feels happier that he is keeping himself busy with rescue works and community outreach programs. 

I also heard a really sad story, he was not injured physically but you could say he was injured financially, socially, and I’m sure, motivationally. This first responder, who shall go unnamed, lost his job because he chose to be at Jade Valley, a subdivision in Davao City, (which was flooded when the river overflowed due to heavy rains) when the call came in requesting all first responders to assist families and victims  who are residents of said subdivision. He chose to make sure that he is there to keep safe families who are not even his own, their belongings protected from the elements, and that they had somewhere to sleep. As a result, he was terminated for failing to report to work that day because he chose to put others first before his own needs and that of his family.  His  record blemished for the rest of his career in the ‘duty to put others first”. Something is wrong there. Somewhere, somehow, we need to learn to take care of each other and in doing so, not forget the caretakers themselves. 

Compass Emergency Assistance Service Team, Inc has about 20 members who are based in Brgy. Baliok. Multiply this by all the differing professions that first responders occupy, taking into account all of the crisis interventionists, per se, in all the world and you have a whole bunch of families that end up in need themselves. Families that for the most part, never complain, never ask for special assistance, and in fact, forgo much help in order to allow their first responder to do his or her duty. and, might I add,  this, in addition, to the fear such families often face regarding the fate of their responder during the crisis itself, is an issue that needs some attention.

This is one of the reasons why Asia's Emergency Medical Services Institute, Inc. came up with the AEMS Community EMS Program. To enhance skills of rescue volunteers and first responders who are based in their local communities. The AEMS Community EMS Program closes the gap by expanding the role of first responders through a standardized curriculum. AEMS Institute, Inc. will train first responders at the appropriate level to serve communities more broadly in the areas of:  

 Primary care       
 Public health
 Disease management
 Prevention and wellness
 Mental health    
 Dental care  

It will succeed through the combined efforts of those that have a stake in maintaining the health and well-being of its residents.

 sponsors from the private sectors, local government units at the barangay level, a private / public partnership with the local 911, health department officials, clinic and hospital administrators, who assess needs and manage resources in order to provide the range of services to meet those needs. 

Asia's EMS Institute, Inc. is accredited with AREMT, South East Asia Pre-Hospital Emergency Care College and is an approved training center of ASHI (American Health & Safety Institute). 

AEMS Institute, Inc.  is the first and only EMS Training Center in Davao City, Philippines.

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