Using a calendar gives people notice of the specific events that are usually circulated for a specific month to inform the public as well as prepare them for a certain period. As part of the growth in human lives, people are found to keep necessary details that may remind them for the whole month and to know where they should begin taking action before it is too late to address the underlying issue.
March is the third month in the calendar where people are just in the progress of living their lives, including making fresh beginnings due to the unfortunate events of the previous year, in the midst of unlocking the goals that they set for the year and pursuing their career or studies by starting to invest in professional aid like online courses. Various countries hold festivals and other celebrations that are meaningful to their country in the said month, but in the Philippines, March is publicly known as Fire Prevention Month, so most people are aware of the spread of fire incidents nationwide. Most people are curious about the reason behind Fire Prevention Month, which is observed every year in the country. Here are the details to further understand the history of the theme for the month:
The Reason Behind "March is Fire Prevention Month"
Fire Prevention Month was imposed for March during the regime of former President Ferdinard E. Marcos when he signed the Proclamation No. 115-A series of 1966, which states to increase safety consciousness among the people and preventive approach. By observing the surroundings that happen during and after the year, it is clear that the month of March is definitely alarming due to the increasing fire incidents that are being determined from different parts of the country. Aside from that, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration, also known as PAGASA, attests that the temperature and humidity during the month of March in the country happen to experience high levels that turn out to be detrimental to the surroundings.
Who Monitors It?
In each country, there are many government agencies that are assigned specific tasks that must be fulfilled since they have pledged their loyalty and sacrificed their lives in line with serving the country. In this case, during Fire Prevention Month, the agency that leads and executes performance throughout the whole month is the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The job of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is to prevent and suppress fires that may occur. Aside from that, they are active in terms of responding to natural disasters that affect the country. They function as the ones who investigate the root cause of the fire incident and have the capability to set platforms to demonstrate the right way to handle the situation related to fire safety awareness.
What are the Activities Set for March?
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) usually lays out a plan that includes raising public awareness by reminding people of the proper way to handle fire incidents and educating them on how essential it is to have at least some knowledge of the subject in order to reduce the number of cases in the country.
Usually, they announce their programs for the whole month, including the motorcades and parades that instill the reminders. Then there is exposure to the arts and fire stimulation exercises that encourage forming a strong bond within the community. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, they usually had rounds of schools, buildings, and other public places to check and also hold seminars. But still, even when COVID-19 is present, they never stop reminding people and make use of the online platforms as a way to deliver the message.
Safety Tips to Prevent Fire at Home
Here are some important safety considerations to remember to keep your home safe at this time of the month.
Do not leave your appliances and other belongings plugged in. Make sure to unplug while not in use since the flow of electricity is still there.
Do not leave any materials that children could get into, especially the unattended lights from candles, matches, and lighters.
Do not leave your house without checking and closing the main switch for electricity.
Do not leave your kitchen unattended, especially if there is no one around to check your cooking while you are handling other stuff.
Be mindful of flammable items and ensure all the filters on your electronics are clean to prevent causing heat due to dirt.
Conclusion
At this time of crisis, people are obligated to be responsible all the time since it is not only about their safety but other people's as well. Due to the struggles and knowing that people value the essence of what they have, people must keep in mind how hard it is for others to experience an incident where, in just one mistake, all of their belongings that came from hard work are gone. There are also instances where the incident was not intentional, yet there is a lack of action to take since they are overwhelmed by the incident that caused more damage to the situation.
The situation would only serve to illustrate the importance of being educated in regards to heavy situations like fire incidents. The more people know about this matter, the higher the chance that scenarios like this are attended to very well and reduce the number of cases in the country. People must know the hotlines that they may use when emergency situations like fire incidents are present in the area, including the hospitals and the fire attendants. It is important that even through their contacts, there is always the presence of emergency hotlines for quick response and to immediately suppress the spread of fire around the area.
Here are the Emergency Hotlines to Remember:
National Emergency Hotline: 911
Philippine National Police (PNP)
Emergency Hotline:
117
(02) 8722-0650
Text hotline:
0917-847-5757
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
Direct line:
(02) 8426-0219
(02) 8426-0246
Written by: Angela J. Cruz
Comments