by Nancy Nais
KOTA SAMARAHAN, Oct 1: Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Idris Buang wants schools, including boarding schools, to take up the opportunity to learn about fire safety and prevention.
“Fire prevention and safety should always be considered a top priority not only in every household but also learning institutions,” he said at the launching of Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak Children Club 3K today.
“Our Bomba has special fire prevention and safety modules which are designed to teach your child in a non-threatening manner about the potential dangers of fire. By attending these programmes, it could mean the difference between life and death for your loved ones,” he said.
A total of 111 kindergarten students from 16 pre-schools in the vicinity of Kota Samarahan attended the Children Club 3K convention at Kota Samarahan fire station today.
The children and teachers were taught the ‘stop, drop, and roll’ technique for when they come into contact with fire, with hands-on practice as they maneuvered and learned how to stay calm and smother fire by rolling on the ground with the firefighters.
They also had the opportunity to see the inside and outside of a fire truck, control a high powered water hose, learn about how dangerous a fire can be, watch a kitchen fire demonstration and many more.
Idris, who was very supportive of the event, said apart from fighting or rescue work, Bomba is working diligently to instil self-responsibility among the public by educating on how to prevent fires and how to react when a fire occurs.
“We need more of this programme to educate our young. Please organise more and I would like Bomba Sarawak to include students from primary, secondary and boarding schools. And not forgetting our adults from villages too,” he said.
To kickstart more similar programmes, Idris donated RM10,000 for the Bomba Kota Samarahan children club’s fund.
State Bomba director Khirudin Drahman said children at this age and stage are usually in their world, exploring and curious to try something new such as playing with lighters, matches and even fireworks.
“If we can educate our children properly, we will create a responsible community that realises the importance of fire, prevention and safety. According to our statistics and studies, 99 per cent of fires are caused by negligence.
“Fire can occur at all times of the day and does not discriminate between socio-economic class and age. One of the best ways to prevent fires in your home is to teach your children about how fires happen and why they are so dangerous,” Khirudin said, adding that children respond better with such hands-on programme, as opposed to sitting in lectures.
