ILOILO City – They may not be doctors and nurses by profession but the role of volunteer rescue groups in between-life-and-death emergency situations like road accidents cannot be overemphasized.
Most of the time, they are even the first to respond, assess the situation and most importantly, give first aid or basic life support to victims of road accidents, fire and drowning.
And what makes them most commendable? They are doing this voluntarily – no compensation.
Rizal Bin Ahamad Abdullah, team leader of EMR (Emergency Medical Responders) Raptor-Iloilo Volunteer, shared his volunteerism journey to Panay News.
A security guard, he was inspired to become a fire medic volunteer by an uncle who was the fire chief here back in 2019. He took trainings in firefighting and first aid.
He was proud that his group has not wavered to render service despite the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Fear is always there, Abdullah shared, especially when they are unsure of the medical status of the victims they deal with. Still, he said, they respond with utmost care.
“Wala kami sweldo, ang amon ‘ya purely voluntary,” said Abdullah.
They bank on the kindness of people who donate supplies such as first aid kits and personal protective gear like gloves, facemasks and face shields.
If they run out of supply, they shell out their personnel money to buy needed items. They must be ready all the time.
“Indi gid mahimo nga ma-stand down lang… mabulig (kami) gyapon,” said Abdullah.
One good thing about rescue volunteers is they work together.
In fact, Abdullah is also the administrator of the Panay Emergency chat group, a social media platform that count as members civilians, journalists, all rescue groups and fire medic volunteers in Panay.
The chat group’s main purpose: Relay real-time emergency situations for faster response.
Another rescue volunteer is Fernando Arguillo Jr., 35. He is the president of R6 Unicorn Rescue Group Inc.
The group – original name was Unicorn – was established by three pioneers in 2007. For some years it became inactive but was eventually reenergized in 2016 with Arguillo as head.
Anchored by their motto, “Willingness and activeness to serve the community,” the group has responded to several emergency situations and even partnered with local governments in various undertakings like the Guimaras oil spill cleanup.
“Ang amon gid ‘ya nga tinutuyo magbulig nga wala ginabaydan. Mabulig kami halin sa amon tagipuso-on,” said Arguillo.
Members of the R6 Unicorn Rescue Group have also undergone trainings with the Philippine Red Cross and Iloilo City Emergency Responders (ICER) under the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Arguillo is also a security guard by profession.
“Kon ara ka na sa field, ang risk sang life sang tawo nga rescue-hon mo kag ang kagustohan mo nga mabuhi sia mas nagapangibabaw kaysa sa worry mo nga basi malatnan ka if ever may COVID sia,” said Arguillo.
Since they are into this cause, Arguillo said, they just have to be careful against the threat of the coronavirus.
“Sa subong nga pandemic, sa heart namon gusto gid ‘ya namon nga sa critical nga sitwasyon kon sa diin kabuhi na ‘ya ang gina-istoryahan, gusto gid namon nga maka-survive ang ina nga tawo,” said Arguillo.
They are accepting supplies and rescue equipment donations. However, he is hopeful that the government becomes more cognizant of their vital role in emergency situations.
There were times they lacked first aid supplies. They would replenish these using personal money “kay gusto gid namon magbulig sa mga tawo, especially sa mga aksidente.”
He added: “Sa prangka nga istorya, ang amon mga members nagabyahe man lang sikad. Construction workers ang iban. Pero iban may mga obra man. Pero lain gid ‘ya tani kon may ara bulig like ang aton government bisan sa supplies na lang namon, kay ti kami nagaserbisyo nga wala sang sweldo. Tani matalungpangdan man kami sang aton gobyerno.”
Aside from Unicorns and EMR Raptor, other rescue Iloilo-based volunteer groups who share the same passion to serve are Mountain Tiger Search and Rescue Inc., Tiger Shark Rescue Volunteer Group, Arevalo Escorpion’s Volunteer Rescue Organization, Glock 215, Iloilo Squad Fire Volunteer Group, IVERT, Advent Rescue Motorized Group, among others./PN
