Disaster Preparedness at School with the GO Bag
Parents like me would always wonder just how safe our children are when they are in school. We are not only referring to the daily risks every student has to face in the school campus but to something more such as natural calamities. Are they instructed on what to do when disaster does strike? Are they equipped enough to be able to wait before actual help comes?
I am very happy to say that the school where my children go to have taken steps in coordination with the PTC to ensure that students will have a fighting chance for survival through the GO BAG. After all, education is not all about academics but also students learning on how to take care of themselves.
Disaster Preparedness
There is no ifs and buts about the need for Disaster Preparedness. The Philippines is the 2nd most disaster-prone country out of 171 countries in the world. If Filipinos will not proactively do anything to reduce the expected damage and loss of life for every disaster, then we will just stand helpless against the wrath of nature.
It is a good thing that many organizations and institutions like schools are doing something about this reality. What can be more scary to any parent than to imagine his children unprotected and more scared trapped somewhere without anything that will help in finding them faster? Not being able to come to one’s child in need of rescue is every parent’s nightmare.
GO Bag
The provision of an Emergency Kit or GO Bag to every student is the simplest but most sensible way of addressing disaster preparedness at school. The GO Bag has been designed like a backpack for easy carrying as it leaves the hands free for anything else that needs to be done. It is padded so children can use it for protection against falling debris. The bags are placed at the back of each chair for easy access during emergencies.
Each bag contains:
*laminated copy of emergency plan/guide and hotline numbers as provided by the school
*metal whistle
*first aid kit in a ziploc bag
*kinetic flashlight
*glowstick
*waterproof body warmer
*350 ml. mineral water
*big bright-colored bandana/hankerchief
*power bar/protein bar
The GO Bag is intended to be lightweight thus the need to limit the contents to the essentials.
My Say
I would like to commend the PTC for coming up with the CDBS GO Bag. This was actually planned by the previous set of officers and was carried out for this school year. It shows the willingness to be part of the solution for the many problems besetting our country.
msculit Ria C
That is a very smart initiative esp in countries like the Philippines where natural calamities strike at any given time. The kids must be given proper education on how to prepared at all times and what basic necessities must be kept at hand in case of emergency.
Zwitsy
It’s my first time to hear about this Go bag and what I can say? It is a must have, indeed. I just hope that schools would apply this.
Nova
Very clever to whoever think about this Go backpack kit… we don’t really know what calamities may come through especially now that Mother Nature is unpredictable. This would give each kid a head start and not be panic when things hits.
JessicaACassidy (@wifetoalineman)
What a beautiful bag to own and help any kids once calamity strikes or disaster arrives unexpectedly. The kids here always has a drill in school on what to expect when something bad happens.
Annemarie LeBlanc
Awesome idea. I think this should be done in all schools, public or private. Having a go-bag plus regular simulated emergency exercises would make the children more prepared in the event of a disaster.
Chubskulit Rose
That is awesome that they are doing it. Over here, kids have annual training just in case there is fire or any disaster.