Metro Rail Accidents and Future Mishaps

A gargantuan problem besets the Philippine Mass Rail Transit system that is one of the sectors dominantly held and controlled by foreign interests.

Fourteen years ago, during the presidency of now Mayor of Manila, Joseph Estrada the Light Rail Transit (LRT) was subjected to serious and deadly assault from supposed terrorists. In a series of bombings coinciding with the commemoration of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal on December 30, 2000, the most critical being on an LRT wagon, twenty two people were killed and more than one hundred were seriously injured.

While there were purported arrests made of the perpetrators, up to this day, the real culprit has not yet been identified and placed behind bars.

Lobby money

Note: Remainder of post under construction

Rescue is not saving lives in disaster

We firmly stand by our conviction that the only way to deal with calamity is to undertake precautionary measures at the earliest possible time.

This means that the greatest number of pro-active steps should be taken, before disaster strikes the community.

As advocates of rescue and self-rescue, we firmly believe that it is more important to save a life long before the danger has arrived. As soon as the disaster hits a community, the chances for avoiding loss of life is considerably reduced thus the potential victims' rate of survival can even diminish to zero. More than six years ago, we have looked at the situation from this perspective:

This is the reason for our aggressive campaign after Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) for relocation to temper the popular worldwide notion and multi million dollar and euro financed campaigns for just building community resilience per se. Part of the positive inclination of select populations towards the same view is manifest in the decision to relocate by the people of Sendai, Japan despite the difficulty in obtaining Japan national government funding. The Sendai residents determined to push through with relocating to higher ground after the tsunami experience on March 11, 2011.

Relocation to safer ground is a major keystone in our paradigm for safeguarding human life before and during disaster, rescue, recovery and disaster relief and response. In our view, mitigation of loss of life during disaster will even entail international migration. That is why we push and push for an international assembly where once and for all, the members of the world community of nations will agree and make it binding in a solid declaration that during the discovery of the real portent of a major disaster, the municipal rules governing immigration shall be waived until the calamity has fully subsided. Repeatedly we have echoed this view and we shall continue such advocacy until and after it has been accepted on the broadest spectrum possible. Some countries have always been lenient toward neighbor countries. But this happens when war, violent conflict, or other catastrophe in its incumbency engulf entire communities, result in massive loss of lives and drive the remaining populations therein as far away as possible for safety and survival.

In our case, the disaster has not yet hit the community, but the migration may already be deemed necessary. That, to our thinking is the real essence of rescue.

Rescue Olympics: Teaching the People How to Survive

Rescue Olympics – RescueLympics
2011 document no. 1

RESCUE OLYMPICS

OBJECTIVES:

Promote widespread awareness of the significance of Life-Saving and Self Rescue among young to old, male and female members of the population

Increase the chances of the members of the population for safety, survival

Increase fingertip knowledge, knowhow, basic skills in avoidance of danger situations and minimization of risks in their own immediate environment and in the community as a whole.

Sustain the awareness campaign

Raise public consciousness of global problems of loss of life and injury arising from unsafe practices, hazards in the environment among other important considerations.

Engage in continuing, improved information and education campaign to increase level of the public’s preparedness and attunement to forecasts of disaster, emergencies and other unforeseen hazardous events – natural or human-made

Combine, pool talent, resources, time, commitments in order to effect successful life saving undertakings in limited conditions.

Expose Rescue Teams and Individual Rescuer to new methods and techniques and Increase knowledge, proficiency in Search, in Rescue, Life Saving and Recovery

Develop bonding and camaraderie between and among Rescue Teams

Create a functional, interactive-cooperative network among Rescue Teams and the Individual Members of the various participating Rescue Teams

Challenge trained rescue - emergency service personnel and bring them to world class fitness and proficiency.

Strongly encourage private sector participation in promoting and evolving Search, Rescue-Life Saving and Recovery

“During time of calamity, disaster, Run! Do not think of any other considerations. Save your life, save yourself.” – Sec. Voltaire T. Gazmin, Department of National Defense

“Be prepared for calamity, Be prepared for disaster. Prepare a survival kit consisting of first aid, your important documents, etc.” – Philippine media, Private Corporate and Public Sector agency advocates for preparedness

It can never be enough to exhort people to run. It is not enough to admonish people to be prepared and gather things into a “rescue kit” and run, escape danger when disaster comes.

It is very important to introduce specific ideas, actions, skills, concepts to the entire population slowly, gradually what it will be required to be able to save one’s self from harm and danger before the onset of and during a disaster as well as after the catastrophe has occurred.

However, it is most exceedingly also important that the population has access to public warning systems.

METHODOLOGY:

Conduct nationwide Search for Finalists for Rescue Olympics through the following intramurals:

• Bureau of Fire Inter-Regional Rescue Competition
• Fire Brigade Volunteers Rescue Competition
• Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Civilian Rescue Team Competitions 
• Conduct the National Championship Competitions for the best Rescue Team in the main event called Rescue Olympics 

ELIMINATIONS:

The skilled Rescue Teams shall qualify and participate in various challenges each year. The following are the games or challenges:

1. Extrication of Victim-Casualty trapped below ground
2. Extrication of Victim-Casualty on water
3. Extrication of Victim-Casualty trapped at high angle

Each team shall consist of six player-members:

1. The Team Leader
2. Medic
3. Two Technical Rescue Personnel; and,
4. One Personnel in charge of admin support to operations.

During RECUELYMPICS, the Teams are presented several and unique conditions that challenge their capability to immediately and on-the-spot, form a Rescue Operational Plan (Rescue OP) and successfully extricate the casualty in the allotted time.

The scenarios include the following:

• 30 minutes Complex Rescue
• 20 minutes Equipment No Holds Barred
• 20 minutes Equipment By Selection Only
• 10 minutes Race Against Time

GAME CATEGORIES

1 – Urban Rescue
2 – Water Borne Rescue
3 – Air Borne Rescue
4 – Mass Casualty Incident Rescue
5 – Highlands / Mountain Rescue

SAFETY - RESCUE SKILL COMPETITIONS:

Low Angle Rescue

Victim Extraction
Life Saving Individual
Life Saving Group
Underground River Triage

Water Borne Rescue
Life Saving Individual
Life Saving Group
Water Borne Triage

Air Borne Rescue

Life Saving Individual
Life Saving Group
Air Borne Triage

High Angle Rescue
Rope Transfer
Rappelling
Rope Ascending
Triage
Mid-Air Rope Transfer
Wall Climb
Mountain Climb

Mass Casualty Incident Rescue
Life Saving Individual
Life Saving Group
Triage

Other competitions

CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS - ALL CATEGORIES

Champion Rescue Team (First Place)
First Runner Up Rescue Team (Second Place)
Second Runner Up Rescue Team (Third Place)
Best in Overall Water Rescue Award
Best in Overall Ground Rescue Award
Best in High Altitude Rescue Award

CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS

Best in Life Saving Individual
Best in Life Saving Group
Best in Underground River Triage
Other Ground, Water and High Altitude Rescue AwardsBest in Triage

Best in Extraction
Best in Cave Triage
Best in Rope Transfer Award
Best in Rappelling Award
Best in Rope Ascending Award
Best in Mid-Air Rope Transfer Award
Awards for Other Various competition events

Related Topics:

Political Pressure on Fire and Rescue Executives - 2011 Philippine Paper

Acknowledgments:

The template of the Rescue Olympics Urban Rescue Category for Metro Manila draws nearly its entire contest concept and rules from the Mine Safety and Health Administration of the United States and Leon County, State of Florida Rescue policies and procedures - Glossary of important terms.

To all of the individuals and organizations that provided useful ideas and concepts that cannot all be named here the authors would like to express their heartfelt gratitude.

July 5, 2014

Centre Humanes + Societas

centrehumanes@gmail.com

communitysafetysummit@yahoo.com

asiacommunications@msn.com

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