By Glaiza Salanio

On Friday, February 2, the Pre-Medical Society of the Ateneo Senior High School (PMSA) and Sandigan Kanlaon conducted its last day of “FAST: First Aid Seminar and Training.”

This two-day event, which was done in collaboration with ActSafe Health and Environment Corporation, aimed to educate participants on the fundamental skills of first aid. 

The first phase of the event, held last January 31, consisted of lectures on the technical concepts of first aid and some demonstrations from the instructors.

Meanwhile, the second phase, which took place last February 2, was the return demonstration, wherein the participants were taught using experiential learning.

This initiative served as an opportunity to empower the members of the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) community through disaster readiness, specifically in times of medical emergencies.

“The seminar brings forth the advocacy of the Sandigan to build a disaster-resilient and prepared ASHS community in line with this school year’s theme, Agapay. The project aims to extend care for one’s safety through immediate action in times of emergencies that one can tend to,” said Nicole Padilla, Sandigan Kanlaon’s Overall Head.

It also equipped its participants with essential first-aid skills, empowering students and faculty to confidently and effectively respond to first-aid emergencies.

“FAST aimed to create an inclusive learning environment on first aid, promoting active engagement and understanding among all its participants and equipping them with the necessary skills to handle emergency situations,” the PMSA Organization Head, Rio Labaguis, stated.

Powerful collaboration

With this collaboration, PMSA and Sandigan Kanlaon faced some challenges in implementing the event as the two organizations have certain differences in terms of work management.

“However, through commitment to the work, competence in the execution of tasks, and communication across the partnership, the goals and objectives of the projects were pushed through,” Padilla asserted.

With that, they also faced some difficulties in finding an external organization to help them.

“One of the notable challenges faced in organizing FAST was the initial difficulty in finding an external organization that aligned with the shared goals of PMSA-SHS and Sandigan Kanlaon,” Labaguis expressed.

“Through extensive research and communication, we found ActSafe Health and Environment Corporation to be the ideal partner for FAST,” she added.

Enriching experience

Participants found the event both educational and enjoyable, having fostered significant personal and professional development.

“FAST is crucial for me as an ASHS student because besides aligning with my future in medicine, it enhances my skills and reduces vulnerability to hazards, benefiting both personal growth and community safety,” Cassandra Pañebe from 11-Perez shared.

“The event was an enriching experience, not only for my career preparation but also for honing skills that contribute to reducing vulnerabilities in emergency situations,” she continued.