PREPARE 10000 SLUM PEOPLE FACE DISASTER IN CHENNAI

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In continuation of our awareness and preparedness programs in 11 schools as a sustainability act of the relief services to disaster the children were formed as, Children Disaster Response Club (CDRC) in each school. 1100 children and teachers of 11 schools were involved and were benefitted by this program. Through demonstrations and detailed presentations children were taught (eg) how to handle victims in case of broken limbs,  how to run for safety during times of earth quakes,  protection during fire, what types of remedial measures to be taken etc.

Children Disaster Response Clubs (CDRC) were formed with stake holders such as  school teachers, students, NGO Staff, parent/teacher association, local government bodies as members of each club in 11 schools. A basic kit comprising of first-aid kit ,a flood preparedness manual, all the necessary medicines and little tools needed for (emergency) immediate relief were provided to each club as well a  printed T-shirts were provided to each member of the club.

A grand get-together was organized to honour the students and the teachers who had enrolled themselves as volunteers for these clubs,  CDRC – Children Disaster Response Club.  The key dignitaries who had participated in this program were Dr.Sathyanarayan – Secratary of Red Cross Society Chennai, the Headmaster of the local school welcomed the gathering, team of coordinators from Red Cross, Kollywood director Mr.Mohan had offered their felicitations, the program came to a close with a formal vote of thanks to all.   The children were given certificates and trophies for participating and willing to carry on this message of preparedness to others also. 

Disaster mitigation was initiated by reaching out to school children, young, adults , old adults and disabled persons. As a follow up of this mitigation effort, we had initiated a program to keep the children to be equipped personally and also to be bold enough to handle all kinds of disasters.  The members from each of the 11 schools were grouped for a training program on preparedness, “Children Disaster Response Club” (CDRC) and were trained in this concept and also awarded certificates and mementos to the members of this club.  We believe it is a humble beginning and it has to go a long mile before the dawn”. 

Children were specially taught as to how to handle people during critical times, handling people if they have fainted or breathless, handling of people who were rescued  from the process of committing suicide, the do’s and the dont’s  of it etc, enabling them to be truly  prepared for the inevitability.  This was done as a part of sustainability, so that these children who are trained in these tasks, would go on to propagate this life saving mesage to many other children in their own school and neighbourhood, this would give them a psychological edge over others in preparedness. 

Feedback from members of Children Disaster Response Club (CDRC) ,Chennai.

Mr.Sarathy , Headmaster of Mandeveli Girls Higher Secondary School, says that he was so happy to a part of  this program, a unique type.  Out of 700 children in  his school, about 120 had participated in this Children Disaster Response Club and had learnt many components of planning and preparing for disaster preparedness.   The only thought of concern was that it was a short program.  He also recommended that this program can be a regular one with additional days of training.

Mrs.Rachael – Headmistress of Garodia Girls Higher Secondary School, Kodambakkam, Chennai

Mrs.Rachael thanked GlobalGiving for this thoughtful training, inspite it was  a follow up of last years program. These kind of programs are very useful to the children, and makes them to be confident in all kinds of situations.  She also said that those who have been trained in this program shall also disseminate it to other students.  We are happy that like National Cadet Corps (NCC) Junior Red Cross (JRC) National Social Sevice Scheme(NSS) we also have Children Disaster Response Club (CDRC) in our school.  She also spoke about drills, Good drills are a learning process. They begin with advance preparation by staff, providing an opportunity to train students in classroom groups, remember procedures, and check on provisions. The simulation itself is an experiential learning opportunity.

Nandhini – Student of Seva Sangam School.

Nandhini comes from a very ordinary family does not have much exposure about global changes , disaster preparedness etc.  She thought that first aid is only to treat who are hurt by accidents or falling down etc.  But after this training program she is aware that there is something called preparedness for disaster, which had personally built her confidence to boldly approach situations.  She felt that it was an honour to be member of CDRC, for Children Disaster preparedness Club has opened her eyes about preparedness.  She also believes that this should be regular program for school children and atleast for some more  days.    

Our First aid and disaster preparedness training programme was taken up to 12 schools – Govt.Hr.Sec.School, Nandanam; P.S.High School, Mylapore; The Madras Seva Sadan Hr.Sec. School, Chetput; Raja Muthaiyah Hr. Sec. School, Raja Annamalaipuram; Chennai Girls Hr. Sec. School, Nungambakkam; Jeyagopal Carodia Girls Hr. Sec. School, Choolaimedu;  St.Joseph’s High School, Nungambakkam;  Chennai Corporation High School, T.Nagar; Chennai Corporation High School, Appadurai; Chennai Corporation High School, Teynampet; Chennai Corporation High School, Dr.Giriappa Road; Chennai Corporation High School, Vanniyar Street;  in Teynampet area of Chennai to give school students and staff a flexible approach in offering first aid and immediate rescue measures during a disaster. 925 students from middle and high school grades were the participants of the training.

The training programme that ranged from one-to-five hours was facilitated with the help of Mr.K.Palani, Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, Sub-branch, Amijikarai, Chennai City; Mr.K.Lawrence, Demo Organizer, Red Cross Society; Mr.K.Subramaniyan, First Aid Trainer. All our dedicated trainers from the Red Cross Society and 24 volunteers who are well equipped with extensive first aid knowledge and ample experience working with young people took up the training programme in an efficient manner.

Each training module ran through 20 – 30 minutes and included a broad range of topics like the basic concepts & elements in disaster management, types of natural hazards and brief description of various natural disasters, such as flood, drought, cyclone, earthquake and their impact.

The course module also included first aid measures during bleeding, head injuries, emergency treatment and support to preserve life through clearing and maintaining open airways, restoring breathing or circulation, how to protect a person, particularly if they are unconscious, practical training on fire fighting, lifting mechanisms, formation of teams and how to communicate using sign language/signals during disaster. The training offered practical, fun and interactive first aid training to the children where teachers were also welcomed to participate in the training.

Case study

I’m glad to appreciate the excellent effort taken by SPPD & Global Giving with the assistance of Red Cross Society in orienting first aid and disaster preparedness training at school level. Though there is a mass response amongst young pupils to learn first aid, many of them wouldn’t know what to do if someone they knew was hurt, or who is in need of immediate help. However I believe the training has provided an opportunity to every young student the chance to learn vital life saving skills, the knowledge and confidence to be the difference between a life lost and a life saved”, remarks the Principal, Jeyagopal Carodia Hr. Sec. School Choolaimedu, Chennai.

 “The training imparted by SPPD & Global Giving had made me more informative about things which I had not known earlier.   This has motivated me to make a decision to help people who are in distress and trouble.

At this juncture, I would like to experience an incident I witnessed few days ago. I happened to notice an elderly man who was passing through our area was about to faint and fall, and he did.   Everyone was trying to get water and splash on his face, and also tried to move him sideways to bring him out of that condition.   In the mean time we had called the Ambulance services – 108 for help.  But it was too late, the elderly man had passed away before the Ambulance could arrive at the scene of this incident.  It was shocking to see that no one could offer a proper first aid. 

It struck me that I could have helped the elderly man through training you had given to us.  I was able to visualize the process of, first move such people to a place of fresh air and make him to lie in a straight line position, and then to blow our  breath into him by placing our mouth on his mouth. 

It also made me to realize that this small effort to give a first aid to someone can make a difference in their life.  I would like to thank Global Giving, Red Cross Society and SPPD for this training program.   I am so motivated that i have taught at least few people about this, and how it can be life changing !”, says Z, a student of Grade VIII from St .Joseph’s High School.

 “The education by SPPD, Global Giving and Red Cross Society on First Aid and Disaster Preparedness was a very useful program for every one of us.  This will help us to be prepared to apply the right solution for every situation.  Some time ago my father had beaten my brother for not performing well in his studies.  Because of this my brother was heartbroken and hung himself to commit suicide.  No one was willing to go and help him, except my father who had cut the rope and saved him from dying.  Inspite, my brother was finding it hard to breathe, and asked for water. We called the Ambulance to take him to the hospital, but after drinking the water my brother died, the paramedics confirmed it. 

Your training program had clearly taught us that during such conditions we have to make the affected person to breathe easily, and not to give water immediately. I was shocked that we did the wrong thing, and had felt how useful it would have been if we would have received it earlier, Probably I could have saved my brother,” says B a student of Grade IX, Govt. Hr. Sec. School, Nandanam Chennai.