Fire emergency management drills for schools

Terror management will now go to schools. Apart from routine disaster management skills like steps to be taken during a flood or an earthquake, children from schools across the city could soon be imparted lessons in emergency management in the event of a fire. In the aftermath of the terror attacks, the city fire brigade and the Fire Safety Association of India (FSAI) have decided to conduct workshops and drills in schools, training children on steps to be taken in the event of a fire.

The first such drill will be held on Wednesday at the Dadar-based JB Vaccha High School for Parsi Girls. PD Karguppikar, deputy chief fire officer, said, “During the workshop, students will be educated on various aspects of combating a fire. They will also be imparted lessons on how to evacuate a building in an orderly fashion in the event of an emergency.”

Cynthia Gokhale, organising committee member, FSAI, added that there will also be an attempt to impress upon young minds the need to remain calm in the event of an emergency situation. “In the event of an emergency, many casualties actually occur because of panic. We want to register the importance of emergency management. The drill has been specially designed for the children from grade VI to X,” said Gokhale. 

FSAI officials stated that three or four other schools had already expressed their keenness on holding such drills.

“The initiative will be extended to the other schools after the Christmas vacations,” Gokhale said.

Meanwhile, the fire brigade also plans to organise such workshops in colleges and for resident groups.