A "Search and Rescue and YOTA (Non-Structural Hazard Mitigation) Training Seminar" was organized by the Vocational School of Health Services within the scope of the University Culture course. Emine Erdem and Nedime Orhan, instructors from the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and Boğaziçi University, participated as speakers at the event held in the Çarşı Campus Yuşa Conference Hall. In the seminar, which highlighted that everyone should have an evacuation plan, it was also emphasized that it is extremely important for a vitally important evacuation plan to be prepared by competent professionals.
Speaking at the event, which saw high participation from Health Services students, Emine Erdem from the AFAD Search and Rescue team made statements about what needs to be done before and after a disaster. Instructor Nedime Orhan provided information about YOTA training.
Emine Erdem: “Everyone should have an evacuation plan”
Emine Erdem, an instructor from AFAD and Boğaziçi University, highlighted the vital importance of an evacuation plan in her speech, stating, “We don’t have a chance to prevent an earthquake, but we can reduce its damage. Everyone should have an evacuation plan, and attention should be paid to where to evacuate in emergencies. Just as important as the evacuation plan is for life safety during emergencies, it is equally important that this plan is prepared by competent professionals.”
Nedime Orhan: “We must take our own individual precautions before a disaster”
Nedime Orhan, an instructor from AFAD and Boğaziçi University, emphasized the importance of securing furniture during an earthquake in her presentation titled “Search and Rescue Team YOTA Training”; she also shared examples from her experiences throughout her professional career. Referring to the importance of taking individual precautions before a disaster, Orhan stated; “If you love this country, you will roll up your sleeves; first, we must take our own individual precautions and then contact the relevant authorities.”
Dr. Gamze Kağan: “Today’s event is of great importance for Istanbul, a seismic zone”
At the seminar, plaques were presented to speakers Emine Erdem and Nedime Orhan by Dr. Gamze Kağan, Head of the SHMYO Occupational Health and Safety Program. Kağan stated that today marks another one of the events they organize as part of the OHS Associate Degree program; “With these events, we bring our field experts together with our students. Today's event was prepared with the help of our university's Occupational Safety Specialist, Ms. Alev Arslan Kılınç. Thanks to Ms. Alev, we listened to two very valuable instructors in their field today. Listening to their experiences was very exciting for me. I would like to thank Ms. Alev, our guests for accommodating us, and our Instructor Ayşe Aydemir and our students who came to listen. As an earthquake-prone country, and with an anticipated earthquake in Istanbul, today’s event held particular significance.”
The event concluded with a group photo session after participants' questions were answered.