Appeal Note to Citizens to undergo Basic Disaster Response and Management Training

[United Way Mumbai Helpline]

In recent time Japan went through catastrophic situations in the face
of multiple disasters; Earthquake coupled with Tsunami followed by
Nuclear Emergency. Despite the magnitude of the calamity, mechanism of
disaster response, management and recovery has been phenomenal. Ample
evidence of this is the minimal loss of human lives compared to the
magnitude of the calamity. There is a vital lesson that we need to
learn from this:

Though the magnitude of calamity was higher, measures of disaster
preparedness & management (disaster response and management trainings
of common citizens, mock drills) have proved to be of utmost use.
Common citizens were well aware of the Dos and Don’ts of various
disasters, first aid skills etc. This was one of the crucial factors
for mitigating the impact of the disasters.


With this lesson in mind, United Way Mumbai Helpline has been working
on building capacity of local key stakeholders of the city through its
various projects for better disaster preparedness and response. We
have been mobilizing local key stakeholders such as Citizens, Police
Personnel, Traffic Personnel, BEST officials, Shoe-Shiners and Porters
at railways stations, Community Health Volunteers working in slum
communities, Hawkers and vendors in the ward, college youth etc. to
create and maintain pool of trained volunteers who will act as First
Responders in times of disasters.

We appeal citizens to come forward and undergo such trainings. United
Way Mumbai Helpline will facilitate these trainings. For more
information you can write to us at : con...@mumbaihelpline.org