MAKATI MAYOR TURNS OVER 39 DEFIBRILLATORS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MAKATI Mayor Abigail Binay recently turned over 39 Automated External Defibrillators ( AEDs) to the Department of Education- Makati ( DepEd- Makati) for distribution to the city’s public elementary and high schools. Binay said, “We have prioritized the acquisition of the AEDs because these can spell the difference between life and death for a heart attack victim, be it a student, a teacher or a school official or staff. Developed by international company, HeartSine Technologies, the Samaritan PAD ( Public Access Defibrillator) 500 has been designed to revive unconscious and non- responsive patients. It is used with the Samaritan Pediatric- Pak for patients one to eight years old, and with the adult Samaritan Pad- Pak for those over eight years old. Recently, the city Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office ( DRRMO) in partnership with the Philippine Heart Association ( PHA) conducted a series of trainings on Basic Life Support ( BLS) and First Aid for city employees, DRRM coordinators in public schools and barangay

( village) personnel. It also provided an overview of CPR and the use of an AED. Through the Training of Trainers ( ToT) program, the city has also been able to create a pool of trainers to cascade the BLS resuscitation courses to residents as well as transients in the city. At present, the Makati DRRM Academy at the University of Makati ( UMak) is accepting applications for BLS- FA, DRRM 101 and Basic Emergency Medical Technician courses. Interested residents, aged 18 and above, can submit their accomplished student application form and other requirements to the Makati DRRM Office, 15th floor of Makati City Hall Building 1, from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Applications are also accepted from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Health and Physical Science Building, 9th floor of UMak.