Republic of the Philippines

Department of the Interior and Local Government

Philippine Public Safety College
NATIONAL POLICE COLLEGE
Camp Jesse Robredo, Laray, Jugan, Consolacion, Cebu

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to determine the challenges encountered by the

Bureau of Fire Protection Special Rescue Unit and Emergency Medical

Services personnel as COVID-19 pandemic frontliners. It also aimed to

determine the problems encountered when coping with the challenges and

come up with an action plan to address the challenges.

The study applied both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The

study had 58 respondents.Survey questionnaire and key informant interview

was used as tools to collect data.

The study found out that shortage of manpower, fatigue from work,

keeping physically and mentally healthy, lack of Personal Protective

Equipment, need for additional ambulances and acquisition of

decontamination materials, fear of getting infected and infecting others with

COVID-19, requiring the public to follow minimum health protocol,

coordination between BFP and hospitals and give or present

recommendations and suggestions to superiors are the challenges

encountered by SRU and EMS personnel. The problems in coping are

difficulty in adjusting to new schedules of shifts ,exhaustion from working extra

hours, unsafe feeling of using recycled PPE, supply provided by the LGU are

not enough, ambulances are used more often that increases the risk of

shortened service of the vehicle, despite conditioning and acceptance, the

fear of infecting family members is still imminent, there are times when

patients are to be transported by EMS personnel but was already transported

by local DRRM, and despite efforts of the respondents, the public do not

follow health protocols.

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