THERE will be a nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill on March 12, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRMMC) announced yesterday. It reminded citizens to remember the “Duck, Cover and Hold” maneuver – three important earthquake safety tips.
But here’s what we have observed: despite the regular earthquake and disaster management drills conducted by various local government units and commercial establishments, there are still noticeable lapses especially on evacuation procedures and emergency response protocols.
We have been doing a lot of drills but unfortunately, when the actual disaster hits us, we still tend to panic. Even our emergency responders still have to do some adjustments on how to properly assess priorities especially during life-and-death situations on multiple locations.
What should be done?
We can start with a full review on the compliance and implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10121or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management Act of 2010. Yes, review the extent of disaster risk reduction and management education, especially in all schools nationwide, with the end view of producing Filipinos with adequate life-saving and disaster survival and management skills.
RA 10121 mandates disaster risk reduction and management education in the school curricula of secondary and tertiary level of education, including the National Service Training Program, whether private or public, including formal and non-formal, technical-vocational, indigenous learning and out-of-school youth courses and programs.
It seems, however, that disaster risk reduction and management education should go beyond the four corners of the classroom and should be inculcated among families and among communities. What’s taught in traditional classrooms might not be adequate and does not prove sufficient to solidify the culture of discipline, awareness, preparedness, resiliency, initiative, involvement and patriotism among the youth.
Earthquakes are inevitable and the only way to deal with disaster is for the public to have the basic know-how on life-saving and disaster survival and management skills. These skills include basic life support, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care; actual assessment and managing/mitigation of vulnerability or disaster hazards or risks at home and in school; addressing public health, water and food concerns during emergencies; tending wounds or controlling bleeding; exiting a burning building and how to put out fire; how to carry a wounded or unconscious person; skills in logistics management and communications, etc.
We still have a long way to go before we can truly say that we are ready to deal with major disasters such as earthquakes.
