DPWH Southern Leyte employees learn life-saving technique

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 13 (PNA) -– Nearly 400 employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways - Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for workers to learn the technique of increasing the chances of survival from heart attacks.

The two-day training enlisted 398 office staff and field personnel of DPWH district office here. The activity is in partnership with the Philippine Heart Association, Inc. (PHA) and Philippine College of Cardiology.

The first day held on Jan. 11 at the DPWH multi-purpose hall was meant for 100 office-based personnel. The next day, nearly 300 field workers gathered at the city gymnasium, joining hundreds of local government employees, students, health workers, and tourism service providers.

“The training is very important considering that every year, at least one DPWH worker succumbed to heart failure. His or her survival depends largely on immediately getting CPR from a co-worker,” said Disrict Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia.

A team of six physicians from PHA led by its immediate past President Dr. Alex T. Junia, the district engineer’s cousin came, to Southern Leyte to conduct the training. The team also held similar trainings in Tacloban City and Ormoc City this week.

“Studies have shown that effective CPR done immediately after cardiac arrest can double a victim’s chance of survival,” Junia said.

CPR is a simple life-saving technique consisting of repetitive chest compressions and mouth to mouth breathing, which forms a vital link in the emergency management during an episode of cardiac arrest.

According to PHA, the method significantly improves survival and contributes to preservation of heart and brain function. In fact, most studies have shown that patients in whom early CPR was instituted have lesser neurologic dysfunction and higher survival compared to those in whom CPR was done late.

Early CPR maintains some blood flow to the heart and brain during an arrest until such time that advance life support measures are available.

The training, according to the district engineer, is very timely considering that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the country, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the total, based on government data.(PNA)
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