The importance of Earthquake Drill

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Team of Itogon chaired by Engr. Cyril Batcagan monitored Loacan Elementary School, Itogon, Benguet for the second time for their disaster preparedness on March 15.

Earthquake and fire drills are observed in all places in the Philippines because our country is under the Pacific ring of fire. The possibility of having an earthquake in our place is inevitable.

SFO2 Dangla instructed the teachers on how earthquake and fire drills are to be done. He further reiterated that pupils should be familiarized with the sounds they hear. The first sound should come from a megaphone which means that there is an earthquake and they should perform the “dock, cover, hold,” inside the classroom. The next sound which is the continuous ringing of the bell would mean that they will form a line outside then go the evacuation center covering their head. When they reach the open space, they will still be in a “cover, dock, hold,” position. The teacher then reports the number of pupils to the high official of the school.

When there is a regular earthquake drill, pupils will be used to it and they will be able to know what to do in case a real earthquake happens.

If the drill is not done regularly, the tendency is, pupils will forget it. This is according to the law of use and disuse.

The Municipal DRRM should continue to monitor the drills in every school so their efforts will not be in vain. They should also give clear instructions so the teachers and pupils will not be confused.

School Disaster Risk Reduction team of the school should be well organized so they will help in implementing the earthquake and fire drills. In this way, the lives of the school children will be saved and injuries will be lessened.

By Beverly P. Anongos