Classes in Gulod National High School-Mamatid Extension in Cabuyao City were suspended on Friday, March 23, after some of the students were hospitalized due to heat exhaustion after joining an unannounced fire drill.

“To ensure that all learners are given time to rest and recover, classes were suspended for today,” the Schools Division Office (SDO) - Cabuyao City said in a statement released by the Department of Education (DepEd).

The SDO addressed the unannounced fire drill incident involving learners at Gulod National High School-Mamatid Extension, in collaboration with Mamatid Senior High School.

The fire drill was the second unannounced fire drill for the School Year (SY) 2022-2023 following DepEd Order No. 53 s. 2022 titled Mandatory Unannounced Earthquake and Fire Drills in Schools.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2023/03/09/deped-asks-schools-to-conduct-unannounced-fire-earthquake-drills/?amp

Based on the report of the SDO, there were 2,121 learners from Grades 8, 9, 11, and 12 participated in the activity scheduled at 3:30 pm on March 22.

“At 3:20 p.m., the bell sounded, signaling learners to leave their classrooms and proceed to the designated area for evacuation,” the SDO said.

The SDO explained that took around five to 10 minutes for learners to reach their respective designated evacuation areas wherein they were instructed to sit and a representative from each class shall report the headcount.

However, even before the head count was completed, Grace Lamano, the School Head, gave the “go-signal for learners to return to the classrooms because some were complaining that the heat was too much for them to bear.”

The SDO noted that some learners also “showed signs of difficulty in breathing.”

Given this, these learners were immediately separated from the rest and were stationed at the First Aid Tent.

After around 10 minutes, the learners were also told to go back to their classrooms with their subject teachers.

Meanwhile, other learners who showed similar symptoms from heat exhaustion were given immediate attention by their teachers while other school personnel requested an ambulance from the Barangay Mamatid Office to bring these learners to the nearest health facilities for further medical attention.

“Based on data consolidated by the teachers, 83 learners were taken to the hospital,” the SDO said.

All of them were treated immediately at Cabuyao City Hospital and Ospital ng Cabuyao. “Some teachers also went to the hospitals right away to monitor the learners’ status,” the SDO added.

To date, the SDO noted that there are “only two learners” still at the Cabuyao City Hospital.

One student was referred to be confined at Global Medical Center at Banlic, City of Cabuyao while another, suffering from hyperthyroidism, was admitted at Calamba Doctors.

These students, the SDO said, “were reported to be in stable condition.” Meanwhile, the rest of the learners were already “discharged and in good condition.”

DepEd Regional Office (RO) IV-A and SDO Cabuyao City are collaborating with the school head and teachers of the concerned school to contact the 79 learners who were already discharged from the hospital to monitor their health situation.

The SDO Cabuyao City medical personnel were instructed to closely monitor the learners who are still confined in the above-mentioned hospitals through daily onsite visits.

DepEd, through the RO and SDO, is currently coordinating with the Local Government of Cabuyao City in the provision of financial assistance to victims by shouldering their medical expenses.

Aside from suspending the classes, the SDO said that the DRRM team is also set to conduct psychological first-aid sessions in the school.