On December 27, 2022, a seminar and training entitled “Basic First Aid (2021 Expanded Implementation of CEST Region III) was conducted. The objective of the activity was to teach participants to demonstrate and train the beneficiaries on how to perform basic first aid during the case of accident.
Tarlac State University's College of Science, Department of Science and Technology, and volunteers from the Red Cross Youth Council administered the seminar and training. Furthermore, one of the DOST's key programs is the Community Empowerment Thru Science and Technology initiative (CEST). It was created in response to the government's National Poverty Alleviation Program. The mission of CEST is to build innovative, capable, and resilient rural communities.
Mr. Jomer Manalang, COS College Extension Chairperson, delivered the opening remarks. He was grateful for the beneficiaries' efforts since their first project for the community. Also, he complimented his colleagues' dedication and the volunteerism from the Red Cross Youth Council.
Moreover, Ms. Angela Guevarra and Mr. Jeremy Peralta, BSN students of TSU-COS and Red Cross Youth Council volunteers, led the discussion on Basic First Aid. Ms. Angela Guevarra discussed the causes and effects of people being choked while eating or taking something by accident. She also discussed the technical procedure that should be followed in putting bondage during bone fracture. Mr. Peralta, on the other hand, talked about basic first aid for experiencing Loose Bowel Movements and what are the common cause of having such. The said speaker also demonstrated how to make an ORESOL (Oral Rehydration Solution), which can be serve as first aid to reduce a person's suffering from LBM. He also went over different types of wounds and incisions and how to treat them to prevent the possible infection. As a result, the aforementioned training is indeed beneficial to the community, as they live in what we call far-flung areas where access to some essential aid is inaccessible.
Additionally, Prof. Adora Obregon, a COS faculty member, and Prof. Mary Jane Rigor, the Dean of the college, expressed their gratitude to the beneficiaries for their enthusiastic cooperation during the project's implementation. Rest assured that DOST and TSU-COSs will continue to implement such kind of project to the community. They also managed the distribution of first-aid kits, as well as the meals and snacks.
The goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Agenda Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities) are aligned with and benefited from the outreach work and knowledge transfer that COS completed. The outreach program highlighted the distribution of first aid kits, snacks and meals provided by DOST and TSU-COS. Imparting lessons on health awareness is beneficial to sustain and develop health status to the beneficiaries. Also, participants communicated with each other about the status of their lives. In light of this, issues and needs of the community were identified. Furthermore, promoting and empowering such a community is indeed beneficial to reduce inequalities among other groups.
