Rawalpindi:District Emergency Officer (DEO) Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi, Engineer Sibghatullah, on Thursday said timely response, preparedness, public awareness and continuous improvement in the capacity of rescue institutions were essential to protect human lives during natural disasters.
Talking to reporter on the National Resilience Day, he said October 8 provided an opportunity to pay tribute to the martyrs of the devastating 7.6 magnitude 2005 earthquake and renew the commitment to effectively deal with any emergency situation in the future.
He said the devastating earthquake of October 8, 2005 caused massive loss of life and property in different parts of the country, affecting thousands of families. The tragedy highlighted the importance of disaster management, rescue services and emergency response systems in Pakistan, he added.
He said relief activities were launched across the country following the disaster, with the public, government institutions, relief organisations and volunteers playing a vital role in helping the affected people.
Engineer Sibghatullah said such disasters highlighted the need for an effective emergency response system to protect human lives. Rescue 1122 was committed to provide timely medical assistance and rescue services in cases of accidents, natural disasters, building collapses, fires, road accidents and other emergencies.
He said Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi was focusing on the training of rescuers, availability of equipment, improvement in response time and practical drills to deal with different types of emergencies.
He said search and rescue operations, first aid, safe shifting of injured people and coordinated relief activities in affected areas were particularly important during natural disasters.
The District Emergency Officer said natural disasters could not be completely prevented, but their impact could be reduced through effective planning, preparedness and public awareness. He urged citizens to remain calm during emergencies, follow the instructions of relevant authorities and cooperate fully with rescue personnel.
He advised citizens to give priority to their safety during an earthquake or any other natural disaster, avoid unnecessarily entering damaged buildings and refrain from obstructing relief operations. Keeping emergency routes clear and giving way to rescue vehicles were also important civic responsibilities, he added.
Engineer Sibghatullah stressed the need for emergency drills and awareness programmes at schools, educational institutions, public and private organisations and public places to provide citizens, particularly young people, with basic training to deal with emergencies.
He said basic knowledge of first aid and emergency response could help save precious lives during the initial minutes of an accident or disaster.
He said National Resilience Day was not only an occasion to remember the martyrs of the October 8, 2005 earthquake but also to renew the commitment to use all available resources to protect human lives during natural disasters and other emergencies.
Paying tribute to all the martyrs of the 2005 earthquake, he said their sacrifices would always be remembered and the lessons learned from the tragedy should be used to further improve emergency planning and disaster response.
Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi, he added, remained fully prepared to fulfil its responsibilities for the protection of life and property of citizens during any emergency.