Coastal clean-up volunteer drowns

GLAN, Sarangani (May 28, 2010) – A volunteer drowned Friday morning (May 28) while taking part in a coastal clean-up.

Jecie Rosima was rushed to Glan Medicare Community Hospital after first aid was made to revive him. Rosima received immediate medical treatment by hospital personnel hoping to revive the patient.

“We immediately gave him medicines and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after arriving at the hospital,” chief of hospital Eden Rose Malanao said.

Glan Medicare Community Hospital is a 15-minute ride from Rosal white sand beach resort in Gumasa where the incident happened.

“His companions said they thought Jecie was just kidding that he was drowning while they were snorkeling in a shallow portion of the beach,” Malanao said.

Nurse Alma Abugan said there must be at least a lifeguard at the beach, otherwise they were not given a permit by the local government to operate.

“It took the medic longer time to provide the patient first aid given the situation, though they were on standby in the area,” Malanao said.

“At 10:10am, Rosima was declared dead by the hospital,” attending physician Joyce Bulambot said in the medical report.

Rosima, a 3rd year student from Mindanao State University is an on-job-training student at the Environmental Protection and Conservation Center (ECPC). He volunteered for the yearly coastal clean-up at the bay in celebration of the 5th Sarangani Bay Festival.

“Pupils fixed and dilated. Patient was intubated with endotracheal tube size 7.5 under direct visualization, secretions were suctioned, started with intravenous fluid and given a total of five ampules of epinephrine IV. CPR was continued for 30 minutes but no cardiac rhythm was noted in the patient,” the medical report noted. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)