Increasing Community Preparedness for Disasters, Udayana University Holds Training and Simulations

Udayana University (Unud) carried out Self-Rescue and Independent Evacuation Training, Friday (26/4/2024). This rescue exercise was in commemoration of Disaster Preparedness Day which was held simultaneously throughout Indonesia on April 26. The self-rescue and evacuation exercise at Udayana University involved lecturers, staff, students and security officers at the Rectorate Building, Bukit Jimbaran Campus.

Head of the Institute for Research and Community Service, Udayana University, Prof. I Nyoman Suarsana explained that Disaster Preparedness Day was established on April 26 2017 by the National Disaster Management Agency based on Law Number 24 of 2007 concerning Disaster Management. This law is a regulation to support disaster mitigation and preparedness.

"Apart from providing education, we also invite the community to carry out self-rescue simulations," explained Prof. Suarsana.

He added that prevention is the most important element in disaster preparedness. Therefore, education and self-rescue simulations are needed to increase preparedness to reduce the risk of accidents in the face of disasters.

Self-rescue education is provided by the Bali Province Regional Disaster Management Agency's Disaster Risk Reduction Forum. According to the Head of the Bali BPBD Volunteer Empowerment Division, Arif Widodo, self-rescue and evacuation drills help to improve responses in dealing with disasters.

“Preparedness is very important because we don't know when a disaster will occur. "By practicing we will always have a better response when a disaster occurs," explained Arif Widodo.

This education and training also provides knowledge to the academic community regarding disaster risks and solutions to respond to these risks. He also emphasized that people should not panic and remain calm, so as not to trigger panic that could endanger themselves and others. By having knowledge and disaster preparedness, it is hoped that in the future Udayana University will become a Disaster Preparedness Campus.