A day dedicated to safety and prevention that is “embedded” in the National Civil Protection Weekwhich involved the two-year and three-year students of Telesio High School in Cosenza first at school and then at Villa Vecchia, the scene of a large exercise that put emergency procedures and first aid techniques into practice. The initiative, the result of the synergy between the School, the Civil Protection, the Italian Red Cross, the firefighters, the Carabinieri, the municipal police, provincial and municipal technicians, has made it possible to transform theory into living practice, through field training.
In fact, the morning began with a surprise evacuation test, designed to test the effectiveness of the emergency plan prepared by the school and the speed of response of students and staff. “Give safety priority over everything else”, this was the warning that guided the exercise, the plausibility of which made it possible to verify the readiness of the school personnel in charge. After the evacuation, a debriefing meeting with class and institute representatives allowed the professionals to analyze any critical issues together with those directly involved, providing immediate feedback.
The Headmaster, eng. Antonio De Lucapresent together with the Director of the Boarding School, Professor Curti, reiterated the importance of practical training. “Our primary objective – explained De Luca – is to guarantee a safe environment and prepare our students for sudden dangerous situations. Safety is a subject that must be taught in the field and our commitment goes towards adopting the right precautions and correct procedures to follow in case of need.” In this regard, the Head of the School’s Prevention and Protection Service, Luigi Pellizzoni, thanked the professionals for the useful suggestions received towards continuous improvement of the school safety plan.
The students then had the opportunity to visit up close the operational points set up by the emergency forces in the villa below the school. From the Civil Protection field tents, set up in a few minutes and intended to give hospitality to displaced people or to become first aid health stations, to the fire brigade vehicles with their various uses, to the volunteers of the Italian Red Cross who provided crucial training, showing and making the students practice Cardio-Respiratory Resuscitation techniques, the use of the defibrillator and the fundamental maneuver of clearing the airways. Furthermore, the procedures indicated in the rescue and transport of traumatized patients were taught, showing up close how it is done from inside an ambulance.
Punctual praise from the institutions for the support and availability received: the Dr. Antonella RegioDeputy Chief of Staff of the Prefecture, congratulated the Telesio School Director and the vicar, Professor Maria Pia Domanico, for their fruitful collaboration. “These moments are fundamental – he said – to ingrain the culture of safety in our young people, transforming them into aware citizens capable of reacting to emergencies promptly. The effectiveness of the test demonstrates a good level of preparation and responsibility”.
This was followed by Dr. Carmela Padulain charge of the Civil Protection office at the Prefecture of Cosenza, who highlighted the active involvement of the students: “It was a well-attended event, with a very notable response. I was pleased with the interventions of the student representatives, which highlight the appropriate reception of the suggestions provided to them and the consequent willingness to be spokespersons for them among their classmates.” The students also expressed gratitude for the learning opportunity, confirming the fact, it was said, that by staying calm and following all the instructions you can stay safe without getting in each other’s way. Some of them highlighted how the morning was worth more than many civic education lessons in class.