The exercise was organized by the European Forest Fire Centre
Exercise on paper with the code name “HEFAESTOS 2023” for the evacuation of a building due to an earthquake and a fire, in which Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are involved, took place yesterday, Thursday, October 26, 2023, at the building of the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (ESSAmeA) in Ilioupoli Attica.
The exercise organized by the European Forest Fire Centre (EKEDAP), which operates in the General Secretariat of Civil Protection (GPP) of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection under the auspices of the Council of Europe, in collaboration with the GPP and ESAMEA / Institute of the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities & Chronic Illnesses ( IN-ESAmeA).
The exercise was implemented in the context of a related action of EKEDAP with the aim of including people with disabilities in disaster prevention and preparedness. Officials of the Greek Civil Protection Agency, the ESAmeA, the IN-ESAmeA, the Fire Brigade and the National Center for Immediate Assistance (EKAB) participated in its operation.
As part of the exercise, techniques for managing people with mental disabilities, techniques for accompanying people with blindness/impaired vision were presented, while a power evacuation chair was also demonstrated for the easy and quick transport of people with mobility problems up stairs, in cases where the immediate evacuation of the building is required.
The goal of “HEFAESTOS 2023” was:
• To train and practice the competent bodies regarding the requirements and particularities that arise during the evacuation of a building or organized preventive evacuation of a population, when PWDs are involved and
• highlighting the importance of inclusion in emergency planning.
It is noted that yesterday’s exercise follows the Conference organized last November by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in collaboration with EKEDAP and the National Technical University of Athens, on the topic “Inclusion in disaster preparedness and response: Active participation of individuals with disabilities in evacuation exercises”.
Source: Skai
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