Last Saturday, November 16, 2019, the Oriental Negros Emergency Rescue Foundation, Inc. (ONE Rescue EMS), celebrated the 10th year of its providing Emergency Medical Service to the Dumaguete community. ONE Rescue EMS is the first medical emergency rescue group in the province of Negros Oriental. Conceptualized and patterned after the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) of Cebu City and 911 EMS of the United States ONE Rescue EMS was formally Incorporated in 2007.
Highlights of the 10 year celebration was a Thanksgiving Mass at the Holy Child Chapel, celebrated by Fr. Enrique Balongag, who is also ONE Rescue EMS Vice President.
The Mass as followed by a motorcade around the city, after which the First EMT Olympics was held at the Mariano Perdices Memorial Stadium. Participants in the EMS Olympics were the Rescue Teams of the various LGUs and Institutions.
In the evening. A Testimonial Dinner in honor of the donors and supporters of ONE Rescue EMS was held at the Bethel Guesthouse.
It began its operations in November 2008 by training volunteer Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). To date, ONE Rescue EMS has trained 10 batches of EMT volunteers. Pioneers of the Training Program were the late Bill Jacobson of FEMA USA, Dr. Kenneth T. Coo, and Dr. Rosalind F. Yu. Key community leaders behind ONE Rescue EMS are Edward & Elsie Lee, Arthur Chua, Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, Dr. Betty C. McCann, Victor Vicente G. Sinco, Fr. Enrique Balongag, Roy T. Cang, Eddie Uy, Conrad Yulo, Mayor Felix Sy, Danah Fortunato and Jose Riodil D. Montebon.
In addition to training its volunteers, ONE Rescue EMS has also provided training for institutions and LGUs in Negros Oriental. Among these are Bayawan City, La Libertad, Ayungon, Sibulan, Siquijor, Foundation University, Dumaguete Science High, Southdale Integrated School, SU Rescue, SU Physical Therapy Department, SU Institute of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and the SU Medical School. ONE Rescue EMS is accredited by the Philippine Heart Association in conducting training for EMTs in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). A number of its EMT graduates of have found it easy to find employment with paramedic and ambulance services in the United States, in Dubai and in other countries. where there is a great demand for EMTs. The high demand is particularly true in our neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
By 2009, ONE Rescue EMS acquired its first ambulance and began serving the public in Metro Dumaguete City with Emergency Medical Services. The year 2009 was the official start of reckoning for the availability of free EMS in our community. The import distinction which ONE rescue EMS enjoys is that it is the only Rescue Provider which renders its medical services free for emergency cases. The emergency medical services are available 24/7, with the ONE Rescue Base located at No. 1 Valencia Road, Taboctubig, Calindagan, Dumaguete City The Base Station is manned by three (3) EMT volunteers on duty at eight (8) hour shifts at any given time.
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Last August 28, 2019, ONE Rescue EMS and its partner, Silliman University, celebrated the donation of two (2) ambulance units from the NorCal Ambulance Service, in cooperation with the Silliman University North California Alumni Association at the Silliman Hall. The highlight of the celebration was execution of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Donor, represented by Dr. Gerald Nazareno, NorCal Ambulance Service and the North California Alumni Association, and the donees, Silliman University, represented by its President Dr. Betty C. McCann, and ONE Rescue EMS, represented by its President Atty. Jose Riodil Montebon. The two (2) ambulances will be used be ONE Rescue EMS to answer emergency medical calls, and to serve as teaching-training ambulances for Silliman university’s future EMT training course to address the needs for EMTs in the South East Asian Region.
Over the last 10 years, ONE Rescue EMS has received wide acceptance from the Metro Dumaguete Community. ONE Rescue has build up a reputation of prompt, efficient service. Invariably, its ambulance is the first to arrive at an emergency scene.
A case in point: when the Mayor’s vehicle, with Mayor Ipe as passenger, figured in an accident at the old dumpsite, the ONE Rescue EMS ambulance arrived immediately. Fortunately, there were no casualties from that accident.
More recently, ONE Rescue was also the first to respond at the assassination scene of Radio Broadcaster Dindo Generoso. It’s volunteers took care of Dindo’s lifeless body.
ONE Rescue EMS has an average daily run of ten (10) responses to emergency calls. About 90% of the calls pertain to vehicular accidents. For the months of October and November this year, the calls have increased, dramatizing the importance of providing emergency medical services to our people. Local governments and institutions are therefore invited to partner with ONE Rescue EMS in improving and upgrading our community’s capability to provide prompt, efficient, and effective emergency medical services, not only for traffic accidents but even for emergencies in the home. A better awareness of the availability of emergency medical services in the community can be life-saving!
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