An important part of this project is focused on training volunteers to respond in emergencies. Around 350 volunteers are being equipped with working knowledge and

skills to deliver first aid services promptly during earthquake and flood emergencies. This will help them to utilize their skills and apply knowledge to bring relief and build community based response groups. The different volunteer teams, in both the flood and the earthquake zones, will receive comprehensive first aid delivery training specializing in earthquake and rapid disaster response. After a basic first aid training, they will continue with advanced first

aid training and after a year they will receive refresher training together with the volunteers that were trained under DIPECHOII. These courses will be complemented with simulations in order for them to gain first hand experience.

During this project, for the first time ever in Bangladesh, Search and Rescue (SAR) teams will be formed and trained. This scheme aims to develop two teams of 48 members with special knowledge and skills to deal with emergencies and worst case scenarios. The SAR team will react to any disaster emergency crisis with light SAR equipment. The training is divided into two separate stages: firstly, training on Medical First Responder (MFR), and secondly, basic search and rescue training.

The volunteers will also be trained in Participatory Vulnerability Analysis (PVA). This exercise, developed by ActionAid International, is an effective tool to identify, in collaboration with communities, the vulnerabilities that communities experience in terms of disasters. Orientation on PVA will help Ward Earthquake Volunteer Team members to identify vulnerability factors in the communities they are working. One hundred members from four Lokokendras in Chittagong and Rangamati will also be trained on PVA to identify their setbacks resulting from disasters. During a three day long PVA exercise the members will develop their own Risk Reduction Plan, which will empower them to lobby the concerned authorities to minimise their vulnerability and develop sustainable solutions.

Capacity building of hospitals, schools and garment factories

Institutional capacity building is another key element in minimizing the disastrous effects of flood and earthquakes. The project focuses on preparedness activities in schools, hospitals and garment factories. The success of the school based earthquake preparedness activities and the simulation exercise under DIPECHOII have demonstrated the potential of simulation exercises with school pupils, guardians and school management to raise awareness on safe evacuation and earthquake disaster preparedness. The potential success of such simulations has led to their planned continuation under DIPECHOIII. Contingency plans, which are essential for schools to safely evacuate students, will be developed and will define the roles and responsibilities of the school management and staff during an earthquake.

Under the project, two hospitals in Chittagong will be selected to model the safety measure that hospitals can take to prepare for earthquakes. During various

orientations hospital personnel will be trained in mass casualty management and the project will provide the necessary support to develop a contingency plan. Only when the medical personnel of a hospital are safe can they begin treating earthquake-related casualties and apply mass-casualty management skills. Therefore a contingency plan is of prime importance. Through earthquake simulation activities, hospitals will become more

responsive and organized in managing large number of casualties, which is characteristic of earthquake scenarios. The findings of the study titled “Mass Casualty Management” conducted under DIPECHOII will be used in preparing the curriculum for this training. The staff of various health care centers run by the Chittagong City Corporation will be also trained in mass casualty management and first aid.

RRVC also works with garment factories. During the KTS fire incident in Chittagong in March 2006 it became painfully clear again that garment factories are highly vulnerable to disaster due to the large amount of workers confined in a small space. A course on earthquake preparedness will be organized for the management staff of garment factories in Chittagong, with a particular focus on evacuation strategies. This evacuation plan will not only be useful in case of earthquake but can significantly reduce the amount of casualties in case of fire as well.