Beyond the Glory: Bell-Kenz Pharma Assembles National Athletes for Drowning Response and Hands-Only CPR Training

Anchored in the Samboy Lim Law, Bell-Kenz Pharma’s flagship advocacy Sagip CPR will head to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium to train 2,000 members of the Philippine sports community from across the country.

Heart emergencies do not excuse anyone, even those with a healthy and active lifestyle.

For Filipino athletes, cardiac emergencies have been among the major causes of death. This makes undergoing life-saving skills even more important than ever.

The need for these skills came into sharp focus when basketball legend Samboy Lim suffered a cardiac arrest during an exhibition game in 2014. His experience helped inspire Republic Act No. 10871, or the “Basic Life Support Training in Schools Act,” popularly known as the Samboy Lim Law. 

The law requires public and private basic education schools nationwide to provide students with age-appropriate, hands-on basic life support training.

This is the thrust guiding Bell-Kenz Pharma, together with the Department of Health, Philippine Sports Commission, National Youth Commission, and Philippine Life Saving in bringing its flagship advocacy Sagip CPR to the Ninoy Aquino Stadium to train 2,000 national athletes, para-athletes, coaches, and other members of sports communities across the country.

With an emphasis on drowning response, Sagip CPR aims to turn athletes into proactive responders armed with lifesaving skills whenever a cardiac emergency arises, whether it occurs on courts, in pools, or at other sports facilities. 

From Saving Lives to Sustaining Livelihoods

One of the features of Sagip CPR is its drowning module, which prepares the athletes on preventive measures and proper procedures for responding to drowning emergencies.

The PSC has been beefing up its calls for stronger emergency preparedness among Filipino athletes, particularly following the drowning incident involving two collegiate basketball players in Dipaculao, Aurora.

Aside from being an emergency intervention, the drowning response is also used to turn opportunities into sustainable livelihoods as done by Philippine Life Saving, an internationally recognized organization that provides certifications and best practices for lifeguards.

In Panglao, Bohol, Philippine Life Saving trained former fishermen in aquatic rescue operations to become scuba divers at popular marine attractions known for their schools of sardines, which draw thousands of tourists each year.

Bell-Kenz Pharma’s partnerships with PSC and Philippine Life Saving provides a stark reminder: when institutions work together, they can help communities protect lives and build sustainable livelihoods that will benefit generations to come.