Get disaster alerts on TV

Bangalore: A new communication system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) could revolutionise disaster management in India by relaying alerts to the public through television. Information picked up by Indian National Satellite System and sent to the Disaster Management Support Centre in New Delhi will be communicated through television via a direct-to-home receiver, G. Madhavan Nair, ISRO Chairman has said. Speaking here on Monday at the valedictory function of an international exhibition and conference on disaster management, Dr. Nair said that Bharat Electronics Limited will produce 1,000 units, each of which will cost less than Rs. 10,000. Installation could take place within six months, he added. “We used to earlier rely on large antennas that used to cost a few lakhs each. This new unit will be cheaper and portable,” he said. Natural disasters have, after all, almost become an annual feature and preparedness and mitigation have become important elements in disaster management, he said.
While Indian Remote Sensing satellites have helped communicate information on cyclones and floods, there are some limitations, Dr. Nair said.”

K.M. Singh, member of the National Disaster Management Authority, said that there has been an important paradigm shift in the role of civil defence from that of providing protection during hostile attacks to disaster management. Disaster management must have a special focus on children, he said. “We have to draw lessons from the 1933 California building collapse and from the China earthquake where hundreds of children lost their lives.” There also needs to be a change in attitude towards disasters, Mr. Singh added. The event was organised by the NDMA and the Directorate of Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services, Karnataka. Awards were given for the best exhibitors and to students who took part in a painting competition on the theme of disaster management.

From The Hindu

Inaugural Function of International Conference on Disaster Management

Preparedness: (From left) Jija Hari Singh, Director, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services; Meera Datta, Principal Chief Post Master General; Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil; and V.S. Acharya, Karnataka Home Minister, releasing a special postcard at the international conference on disaster management in Bangalore on Saturday.

BANGALORE: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Saturday, called on the people to be aware of every aspect of disaster management first-hand and to spread the awareness in their neighbourhood. He said the key to effective management of any disaster was the knowledge of what to do and how to take remedial measures. He was speaking at the international conference on disaster management which was organised as a part of the International Exhibition which is under way here since Thursday. The conference has been jointly organised by National Disaster Management Authority and Directorate of Home Guards, Civil Defence and Fire and Emergency Services-Karnataka.

Mr. Patil said the Centre was thinking of bringing amendments to the Civil Defence Act to make it more universal, which includes different aspects of disaster management. He said the policies on civil defence and disaster management were already in place, but the civil society had to be trained adequately for bringing various policies to fruition. He said the official machinery will also have to be motivated and educated to execute the policies.

Mr. Patil said disasters may occur anytime at any place but “we can save lives and property by integrating technology into forecast of natural disasters like the tsunami. However, the technology to forewarn the society on earthquakes was yet to be available”.

More serious
He said man-made disasters appear to be more violent than natural disasters and he cited the various terrorist attacks, including the attacks on the World Trade Centre, U.S. But tightening civil defence surveillance and educating civil society against man-made disasters would save many lives, he added. He also suggested that large industries should extensively use technology to prevent industrial disasters. He suggested that every city, town and village should take steps to strengthen their respective disaster management systems by frequent interactions and drills.
Presiding over the function, State Home Minister V.S. Acharya said that Karnataka will strive to totally implement the Civil Defence and Disaster Management Acts. He also stressed on the need to introduce disaster management in the academic curriculum at the school-level. Earlier, Director-General of Police and Commandant-General of Fire and Emergency Services Jija Hari Singh outlined the need to hold regular conferences and exhibitions on disaster management. On the occasion, the Postal Department issued a special postal cover and postcard. Principal Chief Post Master General of Karnataka Meera Dutta talked about the new postal stationery. A number of papers on aspects of civil defence and disaster management were presented by national and international experts.

International Exhibition on Disaster Management

Exhibition on disaster management opens
DH News Service, Bangalore:
"Safe 2008," the States first international exhibition on Disaster Management was inaugurated at the Palace Grounds here on Thursday. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who launched the event, and Home Minister V S Acharya, later had a look at the exhibits displayed. Due to a hectic schedule for the day, the CM and the Home Minister could not deliver their speeches at a function organised later.

M Chandrasekhar, former DGP and Chairman of Karnataka Public Service Commission, who was roped in as a last-minute chief guest, wished all success to the exhibition.

Jija Madhavan Harisingh, Commandant General, Home Guards and Director, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services, said prior preparedness could minimise the impact of disasters in a big way. “We must prepare ourselves to face disasters using technology,” she added. Ms Harisingh wanted the exhibition to be conducted annually. A total of 147 stalls, including 12 from abroad, are exhibiting their wares there.

LPG Fire incidents in Bangalore

BANGALORE: Over the past five months there have been 641 fire accidents in Bangalore. Of these, 42 were caused by LPG cylinder leakage and 126 by electric short circuits. Statistics such as these draw attention to the fact that fire accidents are becoming a matter for concern. B.G. Chengappa, Joint Director of Fire Services, says that fire accidents occur mainly because LPG cylinder users are not aware of its nature and potential risks. In LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders, the gas regulator allows pressurised LPG to flow in its gaseous form to the burner. The gas is colourless and has a faint smell owing to the addition of a chemical compound "mercaptan." Highly inflammable LPG is highly inflammable and can burn even at some distance from the source of leakage.

Most fire accidents are caused either owing to a poor-quality rubber tube or because the regulator is not turned off. Mr. Chengappa explains that even when the stove knob is turned off, the supply of gas from the regulator to the burner is on. If the knob turns on by accident, the gas leaks. An official of Bharat Petroleum says that the rubber tube, which connects the cylinder to the stove, must be in good condition. Cockroaches or rodents are attracted to the food residue on the tube and damage the rubber. Hot vessels or splashing oil may also burn a hole in the tube. Once there is a gas leakage, lighting a match or switching on a light or a fan is enough to ignite the gas and cause the cylinder to explode. Never keep the stove at a lower level than the cylinder, advises Mr. Chengappa. "Several homes have the stove placed on the ground, below the cylinder owing to which LPG may flow out. This liquefied gas spreads even faster, thus magnifying the danger," he says. Electrical fires are another cause of accidents. They are caused when too many types of equipment are connected to the domestic power line. The overload causes the wire insulation to melt and a short circuit occurs. Old light fittings and switches also cause short circuits. Unattended irons, heater coils and other heating elements also lead to fire accidents.

For more information

SAR operations

Search and rescue operations mount for crashed helicopter engaged in quake relief task

BEIJING, June 1 (APP) The Chengdu Military Area Command has launched search and rescue operations after a military transport helicopter engaged in quake relief work crashed on Saturday afternoon. The helicopter was returning from a mission to carry epidemic prevention experts to Lixian county when it encountered strong turbulence and fog and crashed, the state media reported Sunday. A crew of four and 10 injured local residents were on board for transfer when the Mi-171 helicopter with the quake relief troops of the Chengdu Military Area Command crashed at 2:56 p.m., the Xinhua news agency referred the military sources as saying. The sources further said that the military transport helicopter deployed in quake relief work near the Yingxiu Township, Wenchuan County in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province when it crashed on Saturday afternoon.
Chinese President Hu Jintao, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, has instructed local authorities to immediately carry out search and rescue operations. Hu, who is overseeing quake relief operations in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province, has also instructed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong to fly to front line to direct relevant operations.

MODERN FIRE STATION IN BANGALORE

Hebbal's Brand New Fire Station

Source: Deccan Herald

http://deccanherald.com/Content/Sep172007/metromon2007091625606.asp

The Embassy Group along with Manyata Promoters gifted the long awaited fire station to the residents of North Bangalore recently. The new fire station, located at Manyata Embassy Business Park will enhance the safety of infrastructure of Hebbal and its surrounding areas. M P Prakash, Minister for Home, Law and Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs, inaugurated the fire station.

The fire station for Hebbal was initially sanctioned by the Government of Karnataka in 1985 but the same was opened around 10 kms away in the premises of the High Ground fire station at Seshadri Road. However, in order to suit the purpose in the best possible manner, a relocation of it was proposed and Manyata Embassy Business Park not only provided the land but has also constructed the building at a cost of Rs 3 Crores.

The fire station will have 57 officals working in two different shifts. It will be completely equipped with all necessary fire fighting equipment including four primary vehicles and a number of support vehicles. Two primary vehicles with a capacity of 4,500 litres and another with 9,000 litres and a ladder of 37 metres will meet the safety needs of the area.

This initiative by the Embassy Group and Manyata Promoters has ensured that the fire station has been relocated to the area which it was originally sanctioned for by the Government of Karnataka.

18 injured in fire accident at lubricant shop
Staff Reporter
Of them, 17 are personnel from the Fire Services
A sub-inspector of police is also among the injured
The condition of three of the injured personnel
is serious Photo: Bhagya Prakash. K.

The injured personnel being taken to hospital in Bangalore on Friday and at right, the shop where the fire broke out.

Bangalore: As many as 18 persons were injured in a fire accident that occurred at a lubricant shop at Nagasandra Circle, near Tata Silk Farm, here on Friday. Speaking to The Hindu, Alok Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), said that 17 fire personnel and a traffic sub-inspector were injured. The names of the victims from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services were given as Sanna Madappa, T.B. Madappa, Rangaswamy (leading fireman), Suresh, Suresh (Fire Services photographer), Munikrishna (Assistant Fire Officer), Nagaraj (leading fireman), Chikka Mariappa (leading fireman), Venkatesh, Gangadhar, Mallaiah, Chandru, Jayaram Singh, Narayanappa, Lakshmi Narasimhamurthy, Abbaiah and Narasimhamurthy. He gave the name of the Sub-Inspector (Basavanagudi Traffic Police Station) as Ramu. Mr. Alok Kumar said that the accident occurred at around 8.30 p.m. The owner of the shop reportedly tried to douse the fire himself. After several unsuccessful attempts, he called the police and the Fire Services. He said that the fire personnel managed to control the fire and were in the process of putting it out completely when a spark fell on an open oil container which caught fire and burst. The injured personnel were shifted to two hospitals. Soon after the incident, the area was cordoned off and barrels containing oil were removed from the shop and dumped on the road. T. Sunil Kumar, Director, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, said that the accident occurred when the personnel were trying to put out the fire. “It happened quickly. Six have been admitted to a private hospital, while the others are in Victoria Hospital,” he said.Compensation About compensation for the staff injured, he said that the amount had not been worked out yet. “Our concern is to ensure that the injured personnel get the best treatment. We will look into the issue of compensation later,” he added. A medical officer at Victoria Hospital, on condition of anonymity, said that the injured were brought to the hospital at around 8.45 p.m. “They were all given treatment. The personnel are all aged between 45 and 55. They have all sustained 50 per cent to 60 per cent burns.” The condition of three fire personnel is said to be serious. About the possibility of infections, he said that it was too soon to speak about it. “The personnel responded positively to the treatment. With proper care and treatment, they may not contract any infection and can be cured completely,” he added. The injured fire personnel were later shifted to a private hospital

For more information http:///www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2007/10/13/stories/2007101360230100.htm

FIRE PREVENTION

01. Fire prevention is every body's job.
02. Over the years the primary objective of the fire service has been the control and extinguishment of unfriendly fires. Although this will continue to be a major function of the fire service, there is increasing emphasis on fire prevention as an objective of the fire service's efforts and on making use of fire fighting personnel for fire preventive duties.
03. In the modern fire science, preventing the outbreak of fire and preventing the serious spread of fire are considered equally as essential to public safety as proficiency in fire fighting procedures.
04. Historically, as early as 300 B.C. the Romans established a Fire Department, composed primarily of slaves. The program was un-successful and the department was converted into a paid force in the year 6 A.D. This proved successful. By 26 A.D. the full time force in the Rome was grown to 7,000 men.
05. The firemen of the Rome patrolled the streets in their efforts to bring about proper fire prevention procedures. They were granted the authority to administer corporal punishment to offenders of fire codes and were provided with rods for use in administering such punishment.
06. According to history, in the year 872, a bell was used in Oxford, England, to signal the time for the extinguishment of all fires. From this appropriate time for "covering" of fires developed the Norman words couvre feu (cover fire), which later became the English word curfew.
07. In the year 1189 the Mayor of London ordered that "no house should be built in the city but of stone and they must be covered with slate or tiled". This was not fully implemented and the importance was realized during a fire occurred in the year 1212, claiming 3,000 lives.
08. In 1666, a major fire struck London. This fire referred to as the Great Fire of London, burned for four days and destroyed five sixths of the city, yet only six deaths occurred. This was because of adopting of appropriate fire preventive measures, which had slowed the spread of fire.
09. In Indian History Kautilya or Chanakya, in his famous book 'Arthashastra', has dedicated two chapters on fire prevention. He has suggested severe punishment like fine, imprisonment and capitol punishment for violation of fire preventive measures. He suggested to keep, two pitcher full of water, one rope, one ladder, one sickle, in each hut as fire preventive and fire fighting equipment. He also suggested to store water, in bigger pitchers, at the junction of all the roads.
10. The method suggested and enforced by Kautilya was simple. In case of fire use stored water from the pitchers. If fire is spreading use the sickle to cut that portion. If the fire is still spreading tie the rope to the hut and pull it down. Use ladder for climbing and pushing the huts to make a fire gap. Even then, if the fire is beyond control, use the water from the road junctions to put out the fire. In his opinion fire destroys a nations economy, to prevent it enforce fire preventive measures, strictly

Fire Safety For Childrens

FIRE SAFETY FOR CHILDREN
01. Children and youngsters are fond of burning crackers.
02. Every year during Deepavali, a large number of people across the country lose their eye sight and sustain burn injuries and loose their lives also.
03. These accidents can be avoided by fallowing few simple precautionary measures.DO'S AND DON'T'S.
An adult should always supervise the use of fireworks by children.
Check the surroundings before igniting the fireworks. Ensure that all the inflammable and combustible materials are removed from the vicinity.
If it is not possible to remove the combustible materials from the vicinity, change your location and move to an open area to light the crackers.
Follow all the safety precautions mentioned on the box of crackers. Foot wear shall be worn to avoid burn injuries to feet.
Do not hold the crackers/flower pots in your hand and light it. It may burn your hands and your face.
Use a candle or agarbatti of sufficient length to ignite the fireworks. It gives a safe distance between your hand and the crackers.
Do not bend over the crackers/flower pots/bombs/rockets etc while lighting them. They may injure your face and eyes. Light them from the side without bending over them.
It is always better to wear protective goggles while lighting the crackers/bombs/rockets/etc. Due to explosion, mud, dust, splinters, sparks etc may injure your eyes.
Use fire works only outdoors.
Light only one firework at a time. Lighting serials of hundreds and thousands will pollute the area by it's noise and smoke.
Keep clean and cool water handy. Apply clean and cool water in case of a burn injury. Apply water continuously till the qualified Doctor arrives and treats the burn injury.
Keep a fire extinguisher or water in drums/buckets to douse any fire at it's incipient stage. In the event of a fire contact Central Fire control Room over Telephone Number 101, 22971500/22971550 and 22971600.