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Module 3 - DISASTER AWARENESS

PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT
1. Introduction/Overview
The Philippines is vulnerable to various types of natural hazards due to its geographical location and physical environment
as it lies between two tectonic plates (Eurasian and Pacific) situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire. This is an area where 
earthquakes and volcanic activity always happen. Disasters nowadays become a common scenario due to unexpected
circumstances. The worst is many people’s lives have been lost, others have been damaged. Thus, this module will not
only give safeness but will arm you with simple yet useful ways to save lives, most importantly YOUR life.

2. Learning Outcomes
1. Educate about Natural disasters education as a part in the prevention of natural disasters;
2.  Pass their knowledge on to parents and community member;
3. Convey a positive attitude and respect for the environment in general;
4.  Building a more equitable and sustainable future by making investments in prevention and
preparedness, including through civil defense exercises as a part of systematic efforts to
increase resilience to disaster;
5.  To reduce the underlying risk factors;
6. To identify, assess, and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning systems;
7. Enhance knowledge about communities to reduce their own risks and cope with the
impacts of all hazards.

3. Lesson 1 - Disaster Risk: Key Concepts and classifications of

Hazards
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4. Lesson 2 - Geographic Profile of the Philippines

As an archipelago located at the south-eastern part of Asia, the Philippines is bordered by the Pacific
Ocean to the east, the West Philippine Sea to the west, and the Celebes Sea to the south. An archipelago
of 7,109 islands with a total land area of approximately 299,764 square kilometers is exposed to both
climatic and geological hazards with. The country has tropical and maritime climate with two major
seasons; the rainy season and the dry season. 

It is situated in the belt of the Pacific Ring of Fire where two major tectonic plates meet, the Pacific Plate
and the Eurasian Plate, thus, make it vulnerable for the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. With several
fault lines crossing the country, earthquakes could have very devastating effects. There are 220
volcanoes, 22 of which are classified as active (NDCC 2008).
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The Philippines is also located along the typhoon belt on the North Pacific Basin in the Pacific where 75
per cent of the typhoons originated. More tropical cyclone (TCs) are entering the Philippine Area of
Responsibility (PAR) than anywhere else in the world. With the average of 20 TCs in this region per year,
with about 8 or 9 of them crossing the Philippines. The geographical location and physical environment
also contributes to its high-susceptibility to tsunami, sea level rise, storm surges, landslides, flood and
drought.

Risk is characteristic of the relationship between humans and geologic processes.   We all take risks
everyday. The risk from natural hazards, while it cannot be eliminated, can, in some cases be understood
in  such a way that we can minimize the hazard to humans, and thus minimize the risk.  To do this, we
need to understand something about the processes that operate, and understand the energy required for
the process.  Then, we can develop an action to take to minimize the risk. Such minimization of risk is
called hazard mitigation.

The Philippines is one of the world’s most natural hazard-prone countries. The World Risk Report 2011
ranked the Philippines number 3 on the World Risk Index. It is among the top 20 countries likely to be
most adversely affected by climate change. Up to 60% of the total land area is exposed to multiple
hazards, and 74% of the population is vulnerable to natural disasters. On average, about 1,000 lives are
lost every year due to natural disasters. Tropical cyclones (tropical depressions, storms, typhoons, and
associated flooding) account for about three-quarters of recorded deaths and two-thirds of damage, but
the archipelago is also exposed to drought, earthquakes, floods, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions,
wildfire, and technological hazards. Among natural hazards, typhoons (storms) caused the largest number
of deaths (31,373) and affected the largest
population (9.3 million)

The hazard maps, particularly climate/weather-

related and geophysical, were intersected with the
base map from the National Mapping and Resource
Information Authority (NAMRIA). The base map
shows the delineation of the political boundary of
each province in the country. Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) software was used to
overlay and multiply the hazard scores with the
population density scores and the Human
Development Index (HDI).
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5. Lesson 3 - RA 10121 and the Four thematic areas of the

Philippine Disaster Management System
The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 (Republic Act 10121)

In the midst of continues assail of different calamities in the Philippines, the Aquino administration declare
Republic Act 10121, otherwise known as The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of
2010, that shifted the focus from disaster response and recovery towards disaster risk reduction,
preparedness and alleviation. This act put in place organization and coordination to appreciate and lessen
disaster risk, based on partaking of citizen groups and civil society, putting up local alliances and
guarantee that all departments recognize their role in disaster risk reduction and preparedness. 

Birth of DRRM in the Philippines

Due to the impact of Typhoon Sening that caused the Bicol Region and Metro Manila flood for 3 months,
an Inter Departmental Planning Group on Disaster and Calamities was approved on October 19, 1970 by
Office of the President. It was provided for the creation of a National Disaster Control Center.

PD 1566 strengthen the Philippine disaster control capabilty and to establish a community disaster
preparedness program nationwide.

The National Disaster Control Center is the forerunner of the National Disaster Coordinating Council
under PD 1566. It shall be the highest policy-making body for the disasters in the country and includes
almost all Department Secretaries as members.

Important Points of Republic Act 10121

The Composition of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
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The National Council shall be headed by the Secretary of Department of National Defense (DND) as
chairperson with the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as Vice
Chairperson for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and the Director-General of the National Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA) as Vice Chairperson for Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery. 

The Powers and Functions of the NDRRMC 

 Develop a NDRRMF which shall provide for comprehensive, all hazards, multi-
sectoral , inter-agency and community-based approach  to disaster risk reduction
and management
 Advise the President on the status of (disaster preparedness, prevention, mitigation,
response and rehabilitation operations being undertaken by the government, CSOs,
private sector, and volunteers; recommended the declaration of a state of calamity in
areas extensively damaged; and submit proposals to restore normalcy in the
affected areas, to include calamity fund allocation
 Ensure a multi-stakeholder participation in the development, updating, and sharing of
a DRRM Information System-based national risk map as policy, planning and
decision-making tools.
 Establish a national early warning and emergency alert system to provide accurate
and timely advise to national or local emergency response organizations and to the
general public through diverse mass media to include digital and analog broadcast,
cable, satellite television and radio, wireless communications, and landline
communications
 Develop appropriate risk transfer mechanisms that shall guarantee social and
economic protection and increase resiliency in the face of disaster
 Monitor the development and enforcement by agencies and organizations of the
various laws, guidelines, codes or technical standards required by this Act.

Declaration of State of Calamity

The National Council shall recommend to the President of the Philippines the declaration of areas under a
state of calamity and the lifting thereof, based on the criteria set by the National Council  The President's
declaration may warrant International humanitarian assistance as deemed necessary.

 Monitoring and Evaluating the Plan

Results based programming will be used to ensure that implementation and learnings are based on the
DRRM System. The OCD shall develop a standard monitoring and evaluation program with Technical
Management Group. The stages of monitoring includes the LGU, regional and national levels. Through
OCD, the NDRRMC shall report annually in the Office of the President and quarterly in the House of
Representatives.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan 2011-2028

 The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP) executes the requirement of
RA No. 10121 of 2010, in which it provides the legal basis for policies, plans and programs to deal
with disasters. By law, the Office of Civil Defense formulates and implements the NDRRMP and ensures
that the physical framework, social, economic and environmental plans of communities, cities,
municipalities and provinces are consistent with such plan.
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The NDRRMP covers four thematic areas, namely,

(1) Disaster Prevention and Mitigation; 

(2) Disaster Preparedness; 

(3) Disaster Response; and 

(4) Disaster Rehabilitation and Recovery, which correspond to the structure of the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council(NDRRMC). 

The NDRRMP sets down the expected outcomes, outputs, key activities, indicators, lead agencies, implementing partners
and timelines under each of the four distinct yet manually reinforcing thematic areas. The goals of each thematic area
lead to the attainment of the country's over all DRRM vision, as graphically shown below:

By law, the Office of Civil Defense formulates and implements the NDRRMP and ensures that the physical
framework, social, economic and environmental plans of communities, cities, municipalities and provinces
are consistent with such plan. 

The 24 outcomes with their respective agencies assigned are summarized below:
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The NDRRMP is a road

map on how DRRM
shall contribute to
gender-responsive and rights-based sustainable development. Highlights include:
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 The need for institutionalizing DRRM policies, structures, coordination mechanisms

and programs with continuing budget appropriation on DRR from national down to
local levels. 
 The importance of mainstreaming DRRM and CCA in the development processes
such as policy formulation, socio-economic development planning, budgeting and
governance, particularly in the area of environment, agriculture, water, energy,
health, education, poverty reduction, land-use and urban planning and public
infrastructure and housing, among others
 Competency and science-based capacity building activities alongside the nurturing
of continuous learning through knowledge development and management of good
DRRM practices on the ground.  
 The inclusion of human-induced disasters that result in internally displaced persons,
public anxiety, loss of lives, destruction of property and sometimes socio-political
stability. 

6. Lesson 4 - Role of the youth in disaster preparedness and

management, Basic Disaster Preparedness and Response Training
(Survival Training)
Responsibility for disaster risk management does not lie with disaster managers alone. It is rather a
concern for everyone - from citizens who must be empowered to make decisions which reduce risk, to
political leaders, government institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, professional
bodies, and scientific and technical institutions.

Simple Ways on Disaster Risk Reduction Management

 1. Know the disasters that could hit where you live. You can get this information from the local Red Cross
or your local emergency management office.

2. Plan an escape route in case of disaster. There should be two exits from every room. Draw the escape
route so kids see and know where to go.

3. Put an evacuation route in case you need to leave the area.

4. Put together a disaster supply kit. This kit should include first aid supplies, water and nonperishable
food. Include also family documents, insurance papers and wills. Keep it in the easy-to-access areas
inside the container that can grab quickly.

5. Make sure everyone in your family is aware of the escape and evacuation routes and the location of the
disaster supply kit.

6. Practice your plan and check supplies on a routine basis.

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6.1. Basic First Aid/Basic Life Support

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Role of First Aider

 Bridge the gap between the time of the accident and the arrival of the physician
 Ends when medical assistance begin
 Doesn't intend to take place with physician
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SEQUENCE IN APPLYING CPR 

How and when to apply the CPR is a question that always, bother every person who do not have knowledge in
CPR. How to apply CPR? 

1. Survey The Scene

Before anything else, as first aider you must always consider the followings:

"Is the scene safe?  (check everything and anything that is not safe, like the escaping
steam, downed electrical post & lines, traffic conditions, about to fall debris, and the extreme
weather condition like the flood, also is the scene area free from poisonous gas about to
collapse structures, is there a natural gas, propane or other substances that could
explode? If any of these abovementioned concerns are present in  the scene, you must
move the victim as quickly and as carefully as possible)

2. How Many People are Involved?

Carefully check how many victims are involved. You might not notice an
unconscious victim lying just beside you. Check also if there is a small child or an
infant that is involved. In cases, where in two or more persons are involved you
have to decide whom to help first.

3. Check for Responsiveness

If someone is unconscious tap him/her a bit in the shoulder just enough to  a wake
an unconscious victim. Do not shout.

For infants, first aider must determine if the infant is responding or not by checking
the responsiveness of the infant by flicking the bottom of the infants foot. 

By stander can be of much help, you can ask them to assist and help you. By
standers can make a call for help while you are doing first aid to the victim.

4. Check the airway

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Before applying rescue breathing (ventilation) .The airway is the

entrance point of oxygen and the exit point and it it important to open
and check the "airway" of the victim.  The airway serve as the exit
point of carbon dioxide. Blocking the airway may result respiratory or
cardiac arrest.

The technique used to open the airway is the so-called "Head-tilt

chin Lift" techniques. 

5. Check the breathing

Using the LLF (look, Listen & Feel). Place your cheek and ear
approximately 2 to 3  centimeters away from the victim's mouth and
nose looking at the same time at the chest of the victim.

In checking for the breathing, you will observe the following signs
from the victim:

1. Through your cheek, you can fell the air-flow coming from
the victims mouth & nose

2. Through your ears, you can hear the airflow.

3. Can see the rise and fall of the chest.

6. Circulation

To check the victim's pulse in the neck, put your middle & index fingers
approximately 2 to 3 centimeters away from the adams apple and press
lightly the carotid artery for up to 10 seconds.

If the  pulse is not felt or the victim does not show any signs of
movement or breathing START THE CPR.

7. Follow up Request for Ambulance or Assistance (Transfer Facility)

Remind the bystanders to follow-up the call for medical assistance, the
more bystanders who will follow-up for medical assistance the better and
the more medical assistance & transfer facilities to come for help the
better rather than come for help the better rather than none at all
because nobody cares to follow-up or help.

COMPRESSIONS PRINCIPLES
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 The objectives of doing chest compression is to effectively squeeze the heart inside the victims chest
causing the blood to flow, it allows the normal gaseous exchange between the lungs, blood stream and
tissues to occur. The theory why compressions is commonly the preferred method in first aid is due for a 
fact that when normal breathing & circulation stop, there is still a good amount of residual oxygen left in the
bloodstream (as it has no way to exchange out of the body).

TECHNIQUE IN COMPRESSION: 

1. Position your body correctly by kneeling beside the victims upper chest
aligning the center of your body to the nipple of the victim or in the middle
part of the sternum (breastbone). The position of your body is vital when
giving chest compressions. Compressing the victim's chest straight down
will help you reach the necessary 2"depth for adult, and child and 1 1/2"
depth for infant. thus, using the correct body position will be less tiring for
you. The objective is to compress in the "Center of Chest" regardless of the
victim, meaning the compressions are performed on the sternum
(breastbone) of the victim a line to the nipple of male & children.

2. Locate the sternum notch, use your index finger trace the lower edge of
the ribcage and together place your index finger with the middle finger and place the heel of your other hand at
the side of the index finger as illustrated. Release the two fingers and place such hand on top of the other
interlocking the fingers from both hands to secure the position: keep your arms and elbows as straight as possible
enabling your shoulders directly over your hands. 

CHEST COMPRESSION ON & RESCUE BREATHING

Give 30 chest compressions, push hard, push fast at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute. The 100
compressions per minute refers to the "speed" of  the compressions not the "number" of compressions given in a minute,
As you give compressions count loud "one, two,.... thirty".

Give compressions by pushing the sternum down by at least 2" (inches). The downward and upward movement should
be, smooth not jerky. Push straight down with weight of your body, not with your arm muscles. The technique of using the
weight of your body it to create a force needed to compress the chest, hence if your arms & shoulder tire quickly, you are
not using the correct body position.

After giving the 30 compressions pinch the nose and give two (2) rescue breathing, (ventilation) to the victim. Each rescue
breathing should last to about 1 second to make the chest rise.

MAKING COMPRESSIONS EFFECTIVE

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Allow the ribs to come back after each compression.

- This technique allows the heart chamber to refill.
- Too close spacing compressions will lead to ineffective compressions.

Your objective is to comply the rate of 100 compressions per minute,  This includes the time to ventilate the victim. In
the actual practice, you must get over  2 cycles of 30 compression with rescue breathing per minute. However its is
advise ti every first aider to make the 5 cycles into 2 minutes.

Almost all compresses the chest too fast, Observation based on experience reveals that almost all even
the well trained first aiders compresses the heart to fast. The compression rate that you should aim is only
a little one per second.

Always observe to keep your arms straight. Bending of elbows while doing the compressions is "not correct" you
should always keep your elbows locked and arms straight on top or perpendicular to your hands.

Make a habit of counting loud, doing a 30 compressions & 2 rescue breathing to the victim for 5 cycles is very tiring,
hence in order not lose your count you must exert effort in counting out load, the  technique will further enhance your
morale and boost your energy in finishing your task without losing your counts. Compressions are likely to break ribs,
doing compressions on older people are more likely that not break ribs or the sternum itself, if this happens just
continue the compressions, the cracking sounds, that you hear is just a cartilage of the ribs & not the bones
themselves. Hearing such a sounds is a sign that you are performing good & strong compressions.

WHEN TO STOP THE CPR

First order is mandated to continue giving CPR to the victim until:

- When there is an obvious sign of life like breathing spontaneously

- When the victim vomits it clearly shows an active mechanism, wherein the victim moves & actively vomits. if  the victims,
roll them to their side, clear the airway, once they done vomiting &  reassess ABC.

- When qualified help arrives - This could be an ambulance service or a doctor or a responder with a defibrillator. However
DO NOT STOP until told to do so. Most likely they need time to set up their equipment, hence just continue applying CPR
until instructed to stop.

- When you are exhausted to continue - CPR is physically very demanding and continuous application of it to the victim
can be exhausting.

- When the scene becomes unsafe - expect the unexpected, hazards can change.

RECOVERY POSITION 
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HAND PLACEMENT & POSITION ACCORDING TO THE AGE OF THE VICTIM

6.2. Bandaging Techniques

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