ABU DHABI // The UAE’s disaster planning authority has published a guidebook on what to do in emergencies.
The book, 'Your Guide to Emergencies', is available in English and Arabic on the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority's website.
The guide is aimed for the general public and key Government agencies.
Federal law requires organisations and businesses to plan for emergencies, including making risk assessments, training, drills and reviews.
The guidebook outlines procedures for natural disasters and power cuts, wartime emergencies, acts of sabotage, administering of first aid, protection against fires, and caring for disabled people.
The emergency situations covered in the guidebook include chemical and biological terrorist threats, bombings, earthquakes, lightning strikes and landslides, but not pandemic diseases.
The book even covers events that are unlikely to occur in the UAE, such as tsunamis.
The publication adds “tremendous value” to the community, according to Caitlin Picker, managing director of UniTeam, a first-aid training organisation.
“Everybody should take an interest in preparedness planning so that their response to an emergency situation will be more likely to result in a positive outcome,” she said.
“Many workplaces are becoming interested in emergency response training for their employees, and this is reflected across the public and private sector.
“But this kind of training needs to be a priority and should be well practised so that our actions in an emergency become automatic.
“Employees who are adequately trained in emergency preparedness and emergency response are able to act with confidence when faced with a threat or emergency.”
lcarroll@thenational.ae
