We continued Health, Safety and Security Conversations with the Health, Safety and Security Group under the coordination of the Occupational Health and Safety Program and the Occupational Health and Safety Club with the subject of Emergency and Disaster Management. Our guest in our conversation was Istanbul Technical University Faculty of Aerospace and Aeronautical Sciences, Deputy Head of Meteorological Engineering Department, Prof. Dr. Mikdat KADIOĞLU.
Speaking in our conversation about the importance of emergency and disaster management and the principle of disaster management being always prepared for the worst, an institution that is ready for disasters can also successfully manage emergencies and events, Prof. Dr. Mikdat KADIOĞLU emphasized that making emergency plans and exercises in homes, schools and workplaces will contribute to the formation of a more conscious society and that the first 72 hours after the dangers that cause emergencies and disasters occur, "Golden Hours" are vital. He mentioned that every institution and organization should create disaster and emergency awareness in schools, families and individuals and make preparations as if we would not be able to receive support from professional teams for the first 120 hours (5 days) even the first 168 hours (7 days, 1 week) beyond the first 72 hours.
He stated that dangers (earthquakes, fires, cyber-attacks, explosions, etc.) that cause material and moral losses on the lives and properties of individuals and societies also cause huge losses on the economy of the countries, and especially in the workplace, as a result of possible dangers, loss of income, situations such as loss of customers, relocation and migration occur.
Emphasizing that the plans made for emergency and disaster are original and the controls of the prepared plans are important, Prof. Dr. Mikdat KADIOĞLU has repeatedly stated that modern disaster management processes (Loss Reduction-Preparedness-Response-Improvement), which are expressed as risk management and crisis management stages in every home and every workplace, should be well planned and managed, and especially the good planning of the Damage Reduction and Preparation phase plays an effective role in reducing the damage. He emphasized that there is a strong need for preparing for safety against dangers that cause disasters and emergencies in homes (keeping fire extinguishers, fixing the furniture to the wall, determining safe places, creating a family disaster plan, etc.) and individuals according to the type of danger in dangerous situations; the 5 basic behavioral patterns, which are collapse-catch-hold, shelter in place, lock-down, evacuation, escape-hide-fight, should be learned through exercises.
We thank him and all the participants who attended the event and enriched our conversation with their presence and questions.
Our valuable students who contributed to news writing; thank you Sena ŞÜLEKOĞLU, Elif BARAN.
This content was updated on 04/12/2020.