US military docs train Red Cross, Zambo, Jolo medics on life-saving series

(ZAMBOANGA CITY)--Some US military medical personnel recently teamed up with members of the Philippine National Red Cross-Zamboanga (PNRC) Emergency team, the medical professionals from Notre Dame Jolo College, the Sulu Integrated Provincial Hospital, and the Jolo Rescue Network colleagues for back-to-back sessions of the Basic Life Support and the Advanced Cardiac Care Course.

The visiting forces’ team consisted of the US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines JSOTF-P’s Surgeon and Critical Care Evacuation Team as well as the USNS Stockham Surgical team, whose surgeons and healthcare professionals conducted the training at the Zamboanga Red Cross facility and the AFP’s Surgical Center, Camp Bautista, Jolo, on November 24 and 25, and on the 26th and 27th, respectively.

The Philippine teams of medical professionals and emergency rescue team members actively joined in said

“For each locale, the course covered of 16 hours of instruction, exposing attendees to the latest emergency cardiac life-savings techniques. Eight hours were dedicated to instructional lectures and eight hours of hands-on training, using mannequins to teach life-saving techniques in a pre-hospital setting. For many of the attendees, such a formal cardiac life support course was a first,” said JSOTFP public affairs officer Lt. Col. Joseph Alegretti.

The course, the US military spokesman said, enhanced the ability of local healthcare professionals to treat life-threatening cardiac events in the greater Zamboanga community.

Said training on life-saving support is among the programs provided by the JSOTFP to Filipino counterparts. Its mission is to “support the comprehensive approach of the AFP in their fight against terrorism in the southern Philippines. At the request of the Government of the Philippines and the AFP, JSOTF-P helps the AFP bring humanitarian assistance to conflict-afflicted communities; shares information, and builds capacity through tactical training programs. The JSOTF-P mission and activities are fully integrated into the overall U.S. government’s support to the Philippines. JSOTF-P leadership sits as a member of the U.S. embassy country team, led by the U.S. Ambassador. Close partnerships between JSOTF-P, US AID and other agencies results in integrated approach that greatly enhance U.S. support to the Philippines.” (Frencie L. Carreon)