Kerala: Volunteers to be trained in disaster response skills

Kochi: A select group of volunteers from flats and residential areas in the city will be trained in basic disaster response skills, under a new disaster management programme, so as to ensure quick relief work in case of mishaps like fire. The Community Response to Emergency & Disaster (CRED), a community-based participatory model in managing emergencies including medical emergencies, accidents and disasters, is being implemented by the Cochin Corporation in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association Cochin branch, NGO MAGICS and EDRAAC (Ernakulam District Residents’ Association Apex Council).

“The initiative is being implemented as part of the Age-Friendly Ernakulam project. Nearly 40 per cent of residents in flats in the city are elderly citizens who need assistance in case of mishaps like fire.  The select trained group can even start rescue and relief operations within minutes of emergencies and fill the gap before  state emergency agencies reach the spot,” said Dr Praveen G Pai, Co-ordinator, ‘Age-Friendly Kochi’. There are nearly 300 flats and 700 residents associations in the city. The programme aims at training a select group of 10 persons from each flat and residential association as ‘First Responders’.  The training will be provided by personnel of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Fire Force and select hospitals.

In addition, a device that could call volunteers in the respective residential location has been designed to respond to emergency calls from registered residents in a locality. “Also the communication network created through CRED will help authorities to disseminate the right information to the public within no time in the event of a disaster or when information has to be given to the public,” Praveen said. “We were given training in medical emergencies like what to do if a person suffered burns or stroke. Next week the Fire Force officials will be giving a class and mock drill on immediate actions to be taken in case of fire,” said Vijay Kartha, First Responder of SkyLine Flats, Kochi.