Students 'manage' disaster at FMCI

A team of 80 students well trained with disaster managing techniques displayed all their skills in front of the student and staff audience at FMC Grounds. While some of the mock drills increased the heart beat of the audience due to the risk part involved in it, few other techniques enthused the gathering. Emergency evacuation in case of fire using crawling technique, evacuation through ladder knot, rescue using chair knot, safety at construction site were some of the mock drills presented on the ground that enthralled the onlookers.

Despite the risk factor involved, few interested students from the audience did come forward to play the role of ‘victim’ whom the disaster management team ‘rescued’ on location.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Manager for Corporate Relations from Western Institute of Technology Steven Pinto, said that all the 80 students were trained by Nobert Rodrigus as per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards of USA.

“There is a need to bring awareness among the people about disaster management, but unfortunately there are very few organisations working on it. Western Institute of Technology is the only institute in India which trains students as per OSHA standards,” Steven Pinto said.

Further, he informed that the trained students perform mock drills in various institutions with the intention to bring awareness among the public about disaster management. “The basic aspect one must understand while one is prone to disaster is not to panic and to behave thoughtfully,” insisted the trainer Nobert Rodrigus.

FMCI Director Rev Fr Patrick Rodrigues, Fr Muller Nursing College Principal Sr Jacintha D’Souza, FMCON Administrator Rev Fr Denis D’Sa were amongst the audience.