Police and fire stations should have at least one emergency medical technician to make them better equipped to handle emergencies.
This was the call of Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos, author of House Bill No. 6528 or the “Rescue Ready Bill,” which pushes for the employment of at least one certified EMT per shift in every police and fire station in the country. The bill was filed with Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos.
“Every operation has risks that could lead to accident or injury, and possibly even death. By including EMTs in every operation we give victims a greater chance of survival.”
“We cannot emphasize enough the value of having on hand an EMT who can immediately respond and provide care to victims of accidents, disasters, or armed encounters. Makikinabang dito hindi lamang ang publiko kundi pati mismong mga kapulisan at bumbero natin,” Bernos said.
Under the proposal, station EMTs would provide out-of-hospital emergency medical care to patients in critical or life-threatening situations, ensuring that immediate assistance is available while awaiting hospital transfer.
The proposal would create plantilla positions for these EMTs, as well as establish regular training and certification programs.
Appointed EMTs would have a starting salary grade of 15 under the Salary Standardization Law of 2019, and would be entitled to a monthly hazard pay of not less than P3,000.
According to Rep. Ching Bernos, the Rescue Ready bill would help enhance public safety as it strengthens the operational capability of the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection.
“Every operation has risks that could lead to accident or injury, and possibly even death. By including EMTs in every operation we give victims a greater chance of survival,” she said.
