Academicians and students of Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (SHMYO) successfully completed the training program organized by AFAD, earning the title of “Support AFAD Volunteer.” The program, aimed at developing disaster awareness and response culture, was conducted on a broad scale with the participation of many departments within SHMYO.
Many programs participated in the training
In this context, students from Emergency and Disaster Management, Oral and Dental Health, Operating Room Services, Home Patient Care, Electroneurophysiology, First and Emergency Aid, Laboratory Safety, Nuclear Technology and Radiation Safety, Pathology Laboratory Techniques, Health Institutions Management, and Elderly Care programs participated in the training.
During the first three days of the five-day program, theoretical trainings were provided by AFAD trainers at Üsküdar University Çarşı Campus on Urban Search and Rescue, Disaster Psychology, and First Aid.
Practical experiences were gained through applied trainings
In the continuation of the program, applied trainings were conducted at the Istanbul AFAD Provincial Directorate.
Participants;
- Fire Extinguishing Techniques,
- Fire Simulator Room Applications,
- Earthquake Awareness and Evacuation Training,
- Use of Debris Equipment,
- gained practical experience in many areas such as Shelter and Tent Setup.
They Became Support AFAD Volunteers
All students and academicians who succeeded in the evaluation exam held on the last day of the training became eligible to receive the “Support AFAD Volunteer” certificate, valid for three years. In addition, participants were gifted personal protective equipment such as hard hats, high-visibility vests, goggles, masks, and gloves by AFAD.
Lecturer Esad Sadık Demirtaş: “Disaster awareness should be widespread in all segments of society”
Lecturer Esad Sadık Demirtaş, Head of Emergency and Disaster Management Program, emphasizing the importance of their third participation, stated that these trainings organized by AFAD in different regions of Turkey significantly contribute to increasing social awareness. Demirtaş stated that the inability to predict the time and severity of disasters makes preparedness essential, and emphasized that the spread of disaster awareness across all segments of society is of vital importance.
“These trainings play a critical role in risk reduction efforts”
Demirtaş stated that the accuracy of the initial response after an emergency directly affects the success of the disaster management process, and added that trained individuals act more controllably during crises, ensuring their own safety and supporting professional teams. Demirtaş, expressing that incorrect responses can increase casualties, conveyed that such trainings play a critical role in community-based risk reduction efforts.
“Volunteer-based efforts will be continued gradually”
Demirtaş stated that the process, which was previously initiated with students and academicians from the Emergency and Disaster Management and Occupational Health and Safety programs, continued this year by being expanded with students studying in different programs of SHMYO, and also stated that volunteer-based efforts would be continued gradually.