KUALA LUMPUR MERCY Malaysia, in collaboration with Pfizer Malaysia, organised a School Preparedness Programme (SPP) at SMK Seri Bintang Selatan in Cheras here, recently, to educate schoolchildren on the importance of disaster management.
The one-day workshop focused on disaster preparedness plans and practical tips to be used during emergencies.
Tips included preparing emergency bags, understanding the early signs of a natural disaster, evacuation procedures and identifying hazards around the school.
Mercy Malaysia disaster risk reduction head Norzalina Masom said it was crucial to train students on how to prepare and protect themselves in the event of a tragedy.
“Mercy Malaysia provides medical and humanitarian aid to the vulnerable but responding to an emergency alone is not enough. It is also important for individuals to equip themselves with disaster preparedness skills. Hence, we teamed up with Pfizer to guide youngsters on what to do when facing calamities.
“While Malaysia has never been hit by a major natural disaster, the annual floods still affect some parts of the country, especially the east coast regions. Unfortunately, the level of awareness and preparedness among Malaysians are still low. Due to our sheltered environment, disaster preparation has not been a priority.
“So what should we do when we visit a country which has major natural disasters? It is time for Malaysians to come out of their comfort zone, especially with the climate change. For instance, Kedah was hit by landspouts recently and the floods are becoming worse.
“We hope the workshop will give students a better understanding of disaster management and the risks involved which they can share with their friends and family,” she said.
Pfizer manager (public affairs and policy) Damaris Kiat, who is also a volunteer for the SPP programme, said her past experience with the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami had opened her eyes on how ill-prepared Malaysians were.
“I was in a hotel in Johor when I noticed everything in the room shaking. I ran down to the ground floor immediately but surprisingly, other hotel guests were so casual, as if nothing had happened despite the fire alarm going off.
“It is worrying. We need to change the people’s mindset to be prepared for crisis. Unlike disaster-prone countries such as the Philippines and Japan, where the citizens are well-prepared, Malaysians are not equipped with enough skills.”
The participants were divided into groups where they had to solve puzzles and prepare the risk map of their school.
There was also a story-telling session on how to detect the early signs of a disaster. Flash cards were used to identify the signs before, during and after a disaster, and its impact.
Student Nur Hidayah Khazali, 16, said: “I learnt that we should not panic when disaster strikes. The workshop also taught us to identify hazards around the school.
“For example, there are many uncovered drains in the area which could pose a danger to students.”