BANGALORE: In this academic year, school children will be brought face to face with Fire Department officers who plan to visit schools in Bangalore and Mysore in order to educate children about fire safety aspects.Part of their outreach programme to spread awareness about the department’s activities, officers of the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES) have made elaborate preparations to involve school students in fire safety education. “We are waiting for schools to start before we commence our drive. We have various tools at our disposal in order to spread information. This is essential as not many people have proper knowledge of what to do if there is a fire in their building,” said KU Ramesh, Chief Fire Officer of Bangalore East.Narrating a recent instance of fire in the city where the shop owner had called 108 which is the ambulance service instead of 101 for fire, Ramesh explained that many people do not know the procedures to be followed. “They sometimes do not even know the number. Recently, I met someone at a fire scene who was trying to dial 911,” he said speaking to Express. So, school students studying in Bangalore and Mysore will learn facts through lectures given by fire safety officers as well as live demonstrations of fire safety procedures. “We will also give them training on basic life saving skills. The main emphasis here is on empowering them to act in case of emergencies and to ensure their personal safety,” Ramesh added. The drive will also distribute pamphlets which will offer tips on topics like safety in high rise buildings, fireworks safety, and other fire hazards via cartoons which are easy to understand and can be read like comic strips. “This is the best way to reach out to children. Which child would not look at a cartoon at least once?” Ramesh asked. The major problem being faced by the department currently is the issue of reaching the spot on time due to uncooperative traffic which leads to delays. “Vehicles come in front of the fire vans and try to escort us so that they can also jump signals. Also crowd control at fire scenes is an issue. People need to be educated on these topics. We can get the message across through school children as they will go back home and discuss these issues with their parents,” Ramesh added. Another aspect pointed out by the CFO was that public should make efforts to know the nearest fire station in their area. “They can visit the local fire station on weekends and interact with the staff. They can get an idea of proper procedures to follow from the station itself. There is no harm in exchanging numbers and getting to know the fire department staff personally,” he said.
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