Mock drill demonstrates disaster management skills

A mock disaster management drill was performed at the training camp of the Mysuru divisional level Rovers and Rangers here recently.

A “bomb” went off near a group of players who were playing kabaddi. The players and the spectators were rattled by the “blast.” The mock drill has simulated causalities as well. The emergency rescue team swung into action immediately.

An initial assessment team comprising the participants arrived on spot and the call for fire tender and ambulances were sent. The medical responders arrived immediately who evacuated the “injured.”  The “injured” were labelled with red, yellow and green tags. Those with red tags were deemed to be serious, while the yellow tag represented not serious condition and green tag indicated minor injuries.

The “seriously injured” were shifted to hospitals in ambulances. District Fire Officer H M Vasanth Kumar said the participants were provided live disaster experience.
The team leader Pratheem Kumar briefed the  participants about their roles. Fire tenders and the ambulances were used during the mock drill.

The five-day Mysuru Divisional Level Rovers and Rangers Training on Disaster Management and Swacha Bharath Seva camp by Bharat Scouts and Guides, Karnataka proved to be a memorable experience for the participants.

Asia Pacific Disaster Management, International Federation for Red Cross, member Prabhath Kalkura added that the students were offered rehabilitation and psychological skills. 

They are also told how to cope with the psychological and sociological loss in the aftermath of the tragedy. Besides they are also trained with resilient treatment. He added that Mysore Divisional Level Rovers and Rangers training camp was being held in the Udupi for the first time. The next state-level camp would be held at Doddaballapur and Dharwad, he said. He said the data base of these students would be given to the district co-ordinators. This would help them to make themselves available in the relief operation, he said.

Around 200 Rangers and Rovers from 13 districts are participating in the event.  Bhumika A M from Women Government College Hassan, who is studying in third-year BBM, told Deccan Herald  that the five-day camp is indeed a special experience and helped her in developing the disaster management skills.
DH News Service

‘Learn to handle emergencies’
District In-charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj said that disaster management is crucial to avert maximum damages during calamities. Speaking after inaugurating the five-day Mysore Divisional Level Rovers and Rangers Training on Disaster Management and Swaccha Bharath Seva camp by Bharat Scouts and Guides, Karnataka, the minister said that people, including children, should be trained to handle emergencies. Citing the example of Japan, where every child is aware and trained to tackle and manage the disaster, especially earthquakes, which have resulted in minimising catastrophes, he said disaster comes uninformed and those surviving would be those best informed. He said that outside the class room experiences would teach better lessons to encounter the various challenges in life, he said.