Just last week, a representative of the Metro Manila Development Authority conducted a 2-hour seminar on Fire Prevention and Earthquake / Disaster Preparedness. The presentation was very informative: with pictures of past disasters; detailed explanation of the cause and nature of fire; detailed description of how an earthquake occurs; statistics; studies on what will happen to Metro Manila if/when an earthquake occurs (which places will be the most affected); and tips & procedures on what to do in case of fire / earthquake.
While listening to the presentation (and viewing the very graphic pictures of disasters), I remembered the time we went to the Safety Theme Park in Daegu, South Korea. Yes, you read it right: a theme park dedicated to SAFETY. They have a Living Safety Exhibition Hall where they educate you on mountain safety, mountain fire, and an interactive exhibit showcasing indoor and outdoor earthquake missions; a Disaster Prevention Future Hall; and their main feature, the Subway Safety Exhibition Hall.
This Safety Park was built as a response to the Daegu Subway Arson Attack in 2009. It's mission is to educate visitors that everybody is responsible for their own safety, as well as the others surrounding them. The main "event" is the movie showing the before-and-after scenes (reenactment) of the subway fire. After the (very touching and very shocking) video, visitors are then taken into the next room, where the actual (burned) subway car is displayed in a replica of the subway station. It was truly an eye-opener for me to watch a reenactment of what happened (they told the story through the eyes of teenage girl who was in the train). It was eerie seeing the actual subway car, and the room was respectfully quiet as everyone surveyed the scene.
But the experience doesn't end there. A short orientation video was shown on subway safety, where they demonstrated the steps to be followed in case of a subway accident. We were taken into a subway car, where emergency procedures will be simulated: we had to learn how to open the subway door manually, and then use the glow-in-the-dark stickers on the floor as our guide to exit the station. Sounds pretty easy, right?
Not really. Especially when the air is thick with smoke, and those stickers are rendered useless.
I was paralyzed with fear. I remember trying to drag my feet, groping my way out of that hazy mess, and losing track of my group mates. The others were quick on their feet and were out of the room in no time: I could hear them chatting and laughing in a place far away from where I was standing. I couldn't see where I was going, and therefore, I was scared shitless of bumping or tripping into something. Pretty stupid, right, as this was only a simulation? But my brain shut down, and I couldn't move.
After a few minutes (it seemed like eternity to me), I could hear the voices of my team, who were apparently out of the smoke. They've been waiting for me to go out, and they were getting worried that it was taking me so long. They "dispatched" someone to come and get me, and when I heard his voice call out through the haze, I flailed my arms around trying to see if I could grab onto him and get the hell out of there.
Panic attack. That's the only phrase that can describe what I went through. I am rendered useless in a disaster, as my fear takes over all of my motor skills. I know that this is really bad (not to mention inconvenient), and I should learn to overcome this tendency. I don't want to be a burden to my companions if or when a disaster strikes.
The recent events are a wake-up call for all of us: we should never take safety for granted. Being caught-of-guard during a disaster is...well, disastrous. If we have the presence-of-mind and the due diligence to ensure our personal safety, this can be a starting point for also ensuring the safety of others.
Be safe. The life you save could be your own.
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