Tokyo introduces its latest efforts regarding disaster prevention to major cities in Asia:
Reports from Comprehensive Disaster Management Drill of Tokyo by participants from ANMC21 member cities (2/2)
Continuing from last issue, we offer the reports on the activities of the overseas visitors in Comprehensive Disaster Management Drill held on September 1 by two student interns
A Convincing performance of volunteers acting like real victims brought an air of tension in the park
Hello! I'm Arisa Ono, an intern for TMG. I joined a team of healthcare professionals from Bangkok. We went to see the medical support practices held in the Rinshi no Mori Park in the morning.
The drill in Rinshi no Mori Park was based on a scenario of a large-scale earthquake in Tokyo, and its victims were classified and treated according to the severity of their injuries (triage practice). Instead of using dolls as victims, the volunteers themselves played the role of the injured. Realistic makeup and convincing performances filled the park with an air of tension as if the park had been actually occupied with hundreds of the injured.
The visitors listened to an explanation about triage tags used to classify victims according to their severity
The healthcare specialists from Bangkok were very much impressed by seriousness of the participants and the size of the drills. "It's great to see such a vast number of people learning what they should do when an earthquake hits the area and working together." There was a display of a car that could provide rapid-response medical care during a disaster, called the DMAT Car (Disaster Medical Assistant Car). It gathered a great deal of attention.
Hello, I'm Yuka Sato, a TMG intern. This is a report on the visits of crisis management specialists from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and New Taipei City.
A portable disaster lavatory that can be assembled in 10 minutes
Sewer pipe cleaning demonstration
We went to Komazawa Olympic Park to see demonstrations of measures against crisis and exhibits of several disaster kits.
First, we went to the exhibit and live demonstration area, where we saw disaster communication trainings, exhibits about the Japan Self-Defense Forces's(JSDF) disaster relief missions and police dog performances. This photo is a portable sanitation kit used during a disaster, equipped with a cesspipe that can be connected to a manhole. The demonstration of its assembly gathered the attentions of visitors in just 10 minutes.
Next, we moved to the emergency rehabilitation drill area. With its rate of leakage at only 3%, Tokyo is leading the world with its superior technology in its water supply system. Because of this, the visiting specialists asked many questions about the technology of Japan at the exhibit of the Waterworks Department in the emergency rehabilitation exhibit area. Also, there was a demonstration of sewer pipe cleaning. After washing the pipe twice using special machinery, a demonstrator thoroughly checked the interior using a high-performance camera to show the visitors how clean it was. The visitors gasped in surprise.
In the special-purpose vehicle exhibit area, there were ladder trucks, patrol cars, rescue vehicles and others. A participant from Kuala Lumpur said that this was a valuable experience because they have hardly any earthquakes.
Many Tokyo residents voluntarily participate in the Comprehensive Disaster Management Drill every year. In Taiwan, however, low public awareness of disaster prevention is a concern. A participant from New Taipei City was impressed by the level of public awareness in Tokyo. "Back home, I'd like to make efforts to raise public awareness by making use of what I learnt from this visit," he said.
Rescue workers from Seoul and Singapore helping each other in the disaster rescue drill
A victim being saved by the rescue workers from Taipei and New Taipei City
Lastly, we went to the rescue drill area, where collapsed houses were displayed, simulating a residential area with many wooden houses constructed very close to each other. There was a blind rescue drill in which the damage was unknown. Disaster management organizations, such as the police and fire departments, and JSDF cooperated with rescue workers from ANMC21 member cities. The specialists' demonstrated that the Asian cities are cooperating with each other. I was totally impressed by the seriousness of the rescue workers during the drills, while they are usually smiling and friendly. The visitors from Asia probably shared the same feeling and there was great applause when the rescue was completed and the victims were saved from the collapsed houses.
The drill ended and I was sorry to leave the site without saying goodbye to the rescue workers from overseas. But one of them found me in the crowd, looked at me and smiled when they got in line to leave. He didn't say anything but his smile made me very happy. It was at this moment that I felt that communication was possible even without words.
[Epilogue]
I learnt through the internship training that many Asian cities have important challenges in disaster management. Also, sharing knowledge and expertise to overcome differences in language and customs is necessary to develop effective disaster management. I feel much honored to have had the opportunity to get involved in one of the ANMC21 projects that help Asian cities cooperate. I sincerely hope the cooperation among Asian cities and countries continues to advance and develop. (Arisa Ono)
Through the internship training, I really felt the importance of developing cooperation among Asian cities to solve their common problems. All the participants from those cities are leading Asia. I strongly felt that I want to be one of them in the future.
I wish for the further development of ANMC21 and Asia as a whole. (Yuka Sato)
Did you enjoy the two reports by student interns? We sincerely hope that the reports gave you a good sense of the atmosphere in this program as a part of the ANMC21 projects, "Network for Crisis Management."
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