By Nancy Nais
SERIAN, Oct 31: Pre-school children tend to feel bored and restless with lectures or classroom learning but it is vital to develop their mindset and awareness on the do’s and don’ts, especially in case a fire breaks out.
For this purpose, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) has created a club called Children Fire And Safety Club (Kelab Keselamatan Kebakaran Kanak Kanak or 3K) to produce quick-thinking students who know how to react in such situations.
State Fire and Rescue Department deputy director (Fire and Safety) Mohamad Fauzi Mohamat Kifli said this was an interactive learning experience for children, with regards to fire safety.
“The club focuses on childcare centres and kindergartens, through its fire safety modules and exercises. We inculcate the ‘Stop, Drop and Roll!’ fun learning as a means of engaging with them while they are still young.
“They may be young, but they learn fast. This can make a big difference in case of an emergency,” Fauzi told DayakDaily.
Since its inception in 2013, the department has registered 454 clubs, with a membership strength of 15,923 members.
“This year, we registered 13 3K clubs with 258 members. The increase in memberships shows a positive response from educators, parents and members of the public,” Fauzi said.
He also encouraged more childcare centres and kindergartens to organise field trips to any of its fire station for the 3K activity.
The state’s 3K learning centre was launched at Batu Lintang station on Nov 1, 2016.
Meanwhile, 17 children from Tabika Kemas Kampung Melayu, their parents and teachers had an exciting field trip to Serian Fire station today.
School supervisor Morahyang Iman said the children found the programme fun and educational. In fact, a few of them even showed a keen interest in becoming firefighters.
“It is indeed important for them to learn from a young age as they are fast learners, and it may come in handy in the future, not just to save their lives but people around them,” she said.
Apart from getting their hands on the hose reel and play with water, the children also took a ride in the fire engine.
Another bonus for them was the opportunity to visit the department’s newest asset that arrived earlier this month — the Canine (K9) unit.
Firefighter Kenneth Masir, who is also a K9 handler, gave a short briefing on what the unit is all about. He introduced all the six furry four-legged officers, namely Sue, Wilf, Clif, Daisy, Bella and Bailey, and their respective disciplines in fire investigation, wilderness and cadaver to the children. — DayakDaily
