The UP Open University (UPOU) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Committee in collaboration with the Bureau of Fire Protection – Los Baños (BFP-LB) conducted a Seminar on Fire Prevention and Fire Drill on 28 April 2017 at the Audiovisual Room, Los Baños, Laguna. Although Fire Prevention Month is celebrated in March, UPOU DRRM Committee acknowledges the fact that fire doesn’t happen only in March or in Summer time but can actually happen anytime.
The event was opened by Dr. Ricardo Bagarinao, Chair of the DRRM Committee and Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Education. He explained that the activity is part of the Climate Adaptive and Resilient UPOU (CAReUPOU) Flagship Program, and the fourth in the series of seminars that the committee is conducting. Other topics that will be covered in succeeding seminar will be on first aid and disaster response. He encouraged everyone to “apply what is learned to be prepared for disasters both in the workplace and at home.”
Ms. Pura Amoloza, Chief Administrative Officer of the UPOU Supply and Property Management Office and member in-charge for Fire Disasters, introduced the speaker for the activity. Mr. Jefferson S. Samson is a registered nurse who currently handles a Fire Officer III (FO3) position as the Chief Training Coordinator of BFP-LB.
Besides sharing about BFP’s mission and vision, Mr. Samson explained the basic chemistry, stages, components and classes of fire. According to Mr. Samson, it will be easier to know how to put out a fire when one knows the basic information about it. Mr. Samson emphasized the importance of the presence of a fire extinguisher at home and goes on to demonstrate how fire extinguishers should be operated using TPASS –Twist the pin, Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle at the base of fire, Squeeze the operating lever and Sweep from side to side.
After his lecture, a fire drill was held and several employees from different buildings were given a chance to use a fire extinguisher. Mr. Samson was assisted by FO Luzviminda Banaag, and four other on-the-job trainees.
Mr. Michael Lagaya, DRRM Committee member and Chief Administrative Officer of the UPOU Human Resource Development Office, was the seminar’s emcee. (Anna Cañas-Llamas)
