House passes coach Yeng Guiao’s ‘Samboy Lim’ Bill
The Committee on Basic Education of the House of Representatives has approved House Bill 5891, authored by Pampanga 1st Dist. Representative and Rain or Shine head coach Joseller “Yeng” M. Guiao, seeking to require students in both private and public schools to undergo Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Training at least once prior to graduation.
Guiao, who has named the measure the Samboy Lim bill after the former Philippine Basketball Association star, said he was hopeful it will become a law before the current Congress adjourns for next year’s election.
“I would like to call this the Samboy Lim bill in honor of the PBA superstar who is now in coma after suffering from a heart attack during an exhibition game and whose fate became the impetus for the filing of the proposal,” Guiao said.
It can be recalled that during the said incident, not one among the more than 20 people around Lim knew what to do or had the proper training to do CPR. Doctors later said that had CPR been administered during the 3 minute window, Lim’s chances of recovery would have been better.
Studies suggest that without CPR, the survival rate of cardiac arrest is less than 1 percent, but bystander CPR can double or triple the chances of survival.
Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been linked to a 30% lower risk of nursing home admission and brain damage in survivors of cardiac arrest outside hospital as shown in a research presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress on August 30, 2015 by Dr. Kristian Kragholm of Denmark.
Guiao added that the concept of CPR training in schools is nothing new considering that Norway had been doing it since 1960s. Likewise, 27 out of the 50 states in the United States have mandated the teaching of CPR skills in high schools an even make it a requisite prior to graduation. Canada and UK also have similar proposals. Among our Asian neighbors, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan have already begun CPR training in schools and communities.
And they have a very good reason for wanting or doing so. Experts have stated that cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere whether you’re at a basketball game, at the theatre, at home, on the bus or on a plane. And since four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home, there’ a good chance a rescuer will be helping his or her on loved one. Giving Filipinos the skills to intervene, rather than remain ignorant passive by-standers, until the medical personal arrive can literally between life and death.
“Ultimately, we want to make lifesavers out of the youth of today by giving them the training that will make them confident to step up when the need arises,” the Congressman continued.
Also present during the hearing was Atty. Darlene Berberabe, former wife of Samboy Lim who has made CPR training a personal advocacy. During the hearing, she narrated the events surrounding the incident and how Samboy’s brain was without oxygen supply for almost 30 minutes. She gave a moving testimony on how Samboy Lim’s family continues to hold on to the hope and conviction that he will recover and eventually wake up from coma.
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