By Nancy Nais
SARATOK, Jan 11: Educators, especially those from pre-schools and kindergartens are highly encouraged to open up and join Fire and Safety Department’s 3K Children’s Club (Kelab Keselamatan Kanak-Kanak).
As a mean of educating the young on fire prevention, Sri Aman Fire and Rescue chief Nik Muhd Afiq Nik Roslan said the department is serious on the matter and will continue to emphasise educating the young generation.
“Prevention and safety should always be considered a top priority not only in every household but also learning institutions.
“Children must be taught to be heedful of the safety of their surroundings and understand the fact that ‘fire is not a friend’ from an early age. We want them to know what is good and bad fire,” he said during the Chinese New Year and fire safety awareness gathering for 11 orphans and underprivileged children at Saratok fire station yesterday.
All the fire stations in the state have a fire safety module under the Kelab 3K programme, which can help raise awareness, as the number of fire cases in the state are still at a very high level, he pointed out.
“The ‘real life’ lesson includes something these children won’t get anywhere else — a private tour of the fire station and a free ride atop a fire truck with all lights flashing.
“What’s more the children even get a chance to use a real fire hose,” Nik Muhd Afiq said on the event.
On the other hand, he acknowledged that participants for Kelab 3K under the Sri Aman zone three’s jurisdiction, which covers Sri Aman, Betong and Saratok, are still below satisfactory level.
Apart from the three fire station’s own initiative to visit those that are located deep in the interior, hence it is not convenient for the children to travel to a fire station, he said.
He expressed hope that many more institutions will understand and open up to join Kelab 3K.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Fire and Rescue director Khirudin Drahman, in his message conveyed by Nik Muhd Afiq, hoped the department’s community programme and out reach would benefit the people.
“Bomba is constantly looking for alternatives, as well as best practices to enhance awareness and education on fire safety at all levels of society, including children,” he said.
Thanking corporate companies, non-governmental organisations and DayakDaily who’ve constantly supported the department, Khirudin said such collaboration has made it possible for them to continue in their community programmes. — DayakDaily
