CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Student-athletes at Xavier University will have coaches better prepared to respond to medical and water emergencies after dozens of coaches completed a two-day Basic Life Support (BLS) and water rescue training.
The July 11-12 training, organized by Xavier University, equipped coaches from the Basic Education and College departments with life-saving skills that could make a difference during practices, competitions and other sports activities.
On the first day at the XU Gym, personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection-Cagayan de Oro City taught participants how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and other basic life support techniques that can help stabilize a patient before emergency responders arrive.
“I now know mouth-to-mouth CPR and the proper techniques,” said Edgar Centeno, secretariat of the University Athletics Office.
The second day focused on aquatic safety, with the Philippine Aquatic Safety Society leading hands-on water rescue exercises at MJN Farm and Café in Barangay Baikingon.
“We learned a lot and we thank XU for this activity,” said Romeo Augustus “Janjan” Geroy, XU High School basketball coach.
The training comes as concerns over athlete safety have grown following the widely reported deaths of two athletes during an out-of-town aquatics training.
Jessica Esparrago, XU College Sports Director, said the seminar, however, had already been planned before the incident.
“Actually, this was already planned last year and was just in time that the news broke about the two poor athletes who died in training,” Esparrago said.
She said the training reflects the university's commitment to ensuring coaches are prepared not only to develop athletes' skills but also to respond quickly when emergencies happen, helping create a safer environment for student-athletes.
