The city of Malang, which is one of the cities that is always growing in East Java, is certainly very the potential for disasters (both natural factors, negligence, or other factors), this can be seen along with the development and increase in population from outside the city and technological advances, where the level of fulfillment of the needs of life and employment in the community continues to increase. Including the construction of supporting facilities ranging from office buildings, educational places, shopping centers, and other public infrastructure facilities which are currently starting to expand their capacity in the hope of meeting the needs and satisfaction of the community.
Universitas Brawijaya as one of the public facilities meeting educational needs will inevitably adapt, not only in terms of human resources and the number of students but also in the expansion of the building as one of the educational infrastructure facilities for students. As part of Brawijaya University, FMUB is also one of the favorite faculties with the largest number of study programs and students among other faculties in Brawijaya University. It has several high-rise buildings that are used for conducting lectures, work, and meeting rooms for the academic community at FMUB.
However, there are still many things that need to be evaluated and prepared, especially in buildings in the FMUB area, especially in evacuation planning, and adequate and appropriate equipment in the event of a disaster, especially fire. Standardization of security, the readiness of APAR (Light Fire Extinguisher), availability of hydrants, and evacuation procedures in a multi-storey building are urgently needed.
Therefore, in order to prepare for this, the Department of Emergency Medicine FMUB/RSSA in collaboration with the UPT Fire Department (PMK) Malang City carried out a series of community service activities with the theme “Training for Fire Disaster Mitigation in Multi-storey Buildings at FMUB” with participants from the Academic Community FMUB which was held on Saturday (17/9/22) at Mako UPT PMK Malang City, on Jl. Bingkil.
Chief executive dr. Taufiq Abdullah, Sp.EM in his report said that in this activity the participants involved were educators and FMUB employees, some of whom served in the main building of FMUB, which had 11 floors. In this activity, participants received educational materials about the dangers and effects on the body due to fires, then proceed with fire fighting simulations using the APAR, including learning about initial treatment if someone gets burnt. He added this activity should be routinely carried out at least once a year. Due to the lack of knowledge and the absence of a simulation about this fire, the FMUB staff will be unprepared if the fire disaster occurs, said the lecturer who is also an alumnus of FMUB.
It is hoped that this activity can be useful and that cooperation with UPT PMK Malang City can continue in the future because there is a link between the community service program implemented by FMUB and the community awareness program launched by UPT PMK Malang City in terms of disaster mitigation. In general, mitigation of the potential for fire disasters in the environment around FMUB and occupational health safety must indeed be considered for the entire academic community of FMUB. To support this, a fixed procedure is needed in the event of a fire in one of the FMUB buildings.
Meanwhile, on the same occasion, the Head of UPT PMK Malang City, Mr. M. Teguh Wibowo, SH in his speech said that we need to convey that the number of fires in Malang is quite high. He informed us that 30 personnel just finished working at the site of a fire that occurred in one of the factories in the Pandanlandung area.
Cooperation in terms of providing insight to the public about the dangers and evacuation procedures in a fire accident is well needed. It is hoped that through this activity, both parties can continue to learn and add insight, especially in disasters, and prepare to be directly involved in handling fires in the work area. (An4nk – FMUB Public Relations)