Dept of Civil Defence celebrates Firefighting Day

Awareness walks, training sessions demonstrate safe practices to prevent fires

RAWALPINDI:

Firefighting Day was commemorated by the Department of Civil Defence in Rawalpindi on the occasion of International Firefighting Day.

Full dress rehearsals and practical demonstrations were carried out to extinguish a minor fire and promptly rescue individuals who were trapped in the fire. Furthermore, a firefighting awareness walk and seminar were successfully organised.

At the Head Office Civil Defence, a wide range of modern and antique firefighting equipment, as well as bomb disposal squad equipment were showcased. Stalls were set up to provide participants with information on fire extinguishers.

Besides Rawalpindi, an exhibition walk and practical demonstration were also organised in Malika-e-Kohsar Murree. A practical demonstration of firefighting was conducted in the extensive premises of the Civil Defence Headquarters. Civil Defence District Officer Talib Hussain and Chief Warden graced the occasion as the chief guest.

Under the leadership of fire senior instructors Nasir Kayani, Sadaf Zahoor and Halima Bibi, volunteers effectively demonstrated the use of chemicals to extinguish fires. Additionally, a mock fire was intentionally set in the head office and individuals trapped inside the building were safely rescued using ropes.

The display of fire extinguishers and bomb disposal equipment at the exhibition attracted considerable interest from both officers and students of government institutions. Students were also given practical training and lectures on the use of fire extinguishers at shops and homes. A large number of students showed great interest in observing the bomb disposal vehicle, robot and equipment and asked various questions to the invigilators stationed at different stalls.

During the seminar, Talib Hussain emphasised the significance of fire safety. He highlighted that fires can lead to devastating consequences, whether they break out in residential areas, shops, large buildings or forests. To mitigate the risks, it is crucial to have functional fire extinguisher cylinders in both homes and shops. Additionally, all adult members of the household, should receive proper training in fire safety. It is also important to ensure that older children and girls are familiar with the use of fire extinguishers.

Furthermore, it is a constitutional requirement for commercial plazas, buildings and offices with a high number of employees to have fire extinguishers readily available. Fire extinguishers are a mandatory requirement for offices, banks, financial institutions, commercial plazas and multi-storied buildings. It is imperative for the staff to be trained in their usage and to utilise them effectively in case of a fire emergency. He said that proper precautions can prevent loss of life.

He further said that with the arrival of summer, the occurrence of fire incidents caused by short circuits in residential homes, shops and buildings becomes commonplace. To safeguard against such incidents, it is imperative to install prompt fire extinguishers. “The Civil Defence Department remains ever-present and prepared to offer complimentary hands-on firefighting training to employees of all establishments, educational institutions, shop owners, and multi-storied buildings,” said the District Officer.

Published in The Express Tribune May 5^th, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congo patient dies, buried amid precautions

Victim’s family members, close friends get clearance from medics

ATTOCK

A 47-year-old man died of Congo virus in Malla Kalan village of Hazro tehsil of Attock on Saturday. After the special emergency measures taken by Assistant Commissioner Hazro Kamran Ashraf, the body was laid to rest while the health department imposed an emergency in the town.

Deputy District Health Officer Dr Rasheed Khan told APP that on April 27, a man named Imran suffered fever and started bleeding His family took him to a private hospital in Attock where his condition worsened. The doctors referred him to a famous private hospital in Rawalpindi where multiple tests were conducted on him and he was diagnosed with Congo virus. The patient died on the fifth day of the disease.

The hospital administration informed the local government administration about the death. Hazro AC Kamran Ashraf immediately dispatched a team of health, sanitary and veterinary departments to Malla Kalan and sprayed them to eliminate the Congo virus spread by animals.

The AC later told journalists that as they came to know about the Congo patient’s death, the deceased’s body was brought to the village from Rawalpindi hospital in full protective kits and box and was buried after performing the funeral prayers.

He said that all members of the affected family and the patient’s close friends have been cleared after tests, adding an emergency has been declared in this regard and sampling and screening are being done in the morning and evening.

The livestock teams urgently sprayed and checked more than 300 cattle, which did not find ticks or any symptoms in any of the animals, Ashraf added.

The AC said that veterinary teams have been deployed at Attock Khurd, Chhach Interchange, Jahanian Chowk, Ghorghashti and other entrances, which will inspect the animals coming into the area. Teams have also been formed for checking in all registered and unregistered markets including cattle farmhouses, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune May 5^th, 2024.