Hospitality personnel undergo CPR training

CEBU, Philippines — At least 250 workers from Cebu’s hospitality sector are now equipped with basic life-saving skills after undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness among tourism frontliners.

The participants, representing 10 establishments affiliated with the Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu Inc. (HRRACI), joined the Sagip CPR training held at the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Campus (UCLM) on Thursday, August 27.

The training was part of HRRACI’s adoption of Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc.’s Sagip CPR advocacy, which seeks to equip individuals with the skills needed to respond to cardiac emergencies before professional medical assistance arrives.

Aside from hospitality workers, faculty members and students from hospitality programs also participated in the training, expanding the pool of individuals who can potentially respond during life-threatening emergencies.

The workshop was held simultaneously with another Sagip CPR capacitation activity for around 300 personnel of the Mandaue City government.

The same-day activities brought together workers from the tourism and hospitality sector and local government personnel in an effort to strengthen emergency preparedness in Mandaue and Cebu, particularly in situations where immediate medical assistance may not yet be available.

Sagip CPR focuses on hands-only CPR and the proper operation of an automated external defibrillator (AED), skills that can be critical during the first minutes of a cardiac emergency.

The program aims to turn bystanders into capable first responders who can provide immediate assistance while waiting for medical responders to arrive.

For the hospitality sector, the training provides workers with additional preparedness in dealing with possible medical emergencies involving guests, visitors, and fellow employees within tourism establishments.

Patrick Larraga, head of Corporate Innovation, Strategy and Experience of Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc., said tourism destinations should also prioritize the safety of visitors.

“A destination becomes truly welcoming when guests know that they are not only being served, but also safeguarded,” Larraga said.

He said the Sagip CPR campaign seeks to develop a culture where people are prepared to assist others during critical situations.

“Through Sagip CPR, we are building a culture of Kaagapay—people who are prepared to stand beside another person in the most critical moments of life,” Larraga said.

Larraga said extending the program to tourism and hospitality workers would help create an additional safety net for visitors throughout their stay.

“By bringing this training to tourism and hospitality, we are helping create a safety net that extends from the moment visitors arrive until they return home,” he said.

HRRACI’s participation adds the hospitality industry to the sectors being engaged by the Sagip CPR campaign, following its earlier activities with the transport sector and the launch of the Sagip CPR Nautical Highway last month.

The participation of tourism industry stakeholders also marks another step in the campaign’s goal of producing at least one million Sagip CPR graduates across the Philippines. — (FREEMAN)