01 – Elements of the Fire Triangle

FIRE
- the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermal chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction
products.

FIRE TRIANGLE
FUEL
– any material that can be burned such as solid, liquid, or gas.
Combustion takes place when fuel is converted into gaseous state as moisture is removed.
This happens when vapor is escaping from any combustible material.

HEAT
- an energy that flows through an object.
- Enough amount of heat would free the vapor from solid and liquid forms of fuel.
- The lowest temperature needed to form an ignitable mixture in air near the surface of
the liquid is called the flashpoint.

OXYGEN
- an element, estimated 21% of it, can be found in the air.
- During combustion process, chemical reaction takes place.
- Oxygen is released and serves as an oxidizing agent for combustible materials.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER
REMOVING THE HEAT
- The goal here is to lower the temperature, which is usually accomplished by adding water as an extinguishing agent. Other
extinguishing agents include chemical and mechanical foams.

REMOVING THE FUEL

- In most cases, removing the fuel from the fire is not a practical way of extinguishing the fire.
- Except when dealing with flammable liquid fires, valves can be shut off and storage vessels pumped to safe areas to help
eliminate the supply of fuel to the fire.

REMOVING THE OXYGEN

- Air is mainly 21% oxygen, and this is sufficient to support combustion in most fire situations.
- Removal of the air or oxygen can be accomplished by separating it from the fuel source or by displacing it with other gases
like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and steam.
- Examples of separation would be foam on a flammable liquid fire, a wet blanket on a trash fire, or a tight-fitting lid on a skillet
fire. Foam does not only lower temperature, but also remove oxygen.

CAUSE OF HAZARDS
NATURAL CAUSES
- Lightning
- Volcanic Activities
- Spontaneous Combustion

HUMAN CAUSES
- Cooking equipment
- Heaters
- Smoking in bedrooms
- Candles
- Curious children
- Faulty wiring
- Barbecues
 - Flammable liquids
- Lightning

TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER

WATER AND FOAM – only used to put out class A fires

● CARBON DIOXIDE – can be used to put out class B and C fires

● DRY CHEMICAL – can be used to put out class A, B and C fires
● WET CHEMICAL – can be used to put out class A and K fires
● CLEAN AGENT – also known as halogenated extinguishers, can be
used to put out class A, B and C fires
● DRY POWDER – only used to put out class D fires
● WATER MIST – only used to put out class D fires

FIRE SAFETY SIGNS

Fire exit signs are colored green and white, as this color
combination means a safe condition. Normally, fire exit signs
show a rapidly walking man and an arrow. However, some fire
exit signs just show ‘fire exit’ text in lower case letters.

Blue fire safety signs are used to indicate a mandatory action or a must-do action. These blue signs mean that you need to do the
appropriate action for your safety. Blue fire safety signs are circular in shape and feature a white graphic or white text.

Red fire safety signs are used to indicate prohibition, or you must not go on that location because it might pose danger or harm. It
also signifies the location of fire equipment and supplementary information. When it means prohibition, it is circular with a red border,
white background and black image.

Fire equipment signs are square with red background and white images and are used to tell you where to find the location of
fire-fighting equipment.

FIRE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

GOOD FIRE SAFETY PRACTICES:
1. Keeping your workplace tidy and having a good standard of housekeeping;
2. Regularly removing combustible waste, including accumulations of dust;
3. Keeping ignition sources away from combustible material or flammable liquids and gases; and
4. Keeping use of flammable liquids to a minimum and closing containers when not in use.

FIRE RESPONSE PROCEDURES (R.A.C.E.)

1. Rescue all stakeholders from direct danger. Note: you will only try to RESCUE anyone in immediate danger from the fire, if. It
does not endanger your life.
2. Alarm by pulling the closest fire station and reporting the location of the fire. Sound the fire alarm in order to warn people of
the approaching disaster and safely evacuate all stakeholders.
 3. Confine the area by closing all doors. A “contained” fire is one with a complete containment line around its perimeter. A fire
that's “under control” has a full containment line around it, and there has been a degree of consolidation so fire escaping
outside the lines is unlikely.
4. Extinguish the fire if the fire is small. Evacuate all personnel from the area if instructed to do so by fire officials or school
authorities, To extinguish a fire is to completely stop a fire.

How to use a Fire Extinguisher (BAKA DI KASALI, kinuha ko lang sa vid)

Step One: once you've seen the fire, first, grab the closest fire extinguisher ensuring it's the correct type and class appropriate to
extinguish the fire and always make sure to keep your back to an unobstructed exit. If you do not think that you can put out the fire
safely, make sure to evacuate the building.

Step Two: once you have your fire extinguisher, stand six to eight feet away from the fire

Step 3: Follow P.A.S.S.the four-step procedure.

1. PULL – pulling the pin unlocks the operating lever and allows you to discharge the extinguisher.

2. AIM – make sure to aim the extinguisher nozzle or hose at the base of the fire,

3. SQUEEZE – the lever this discharges the extinguishing agent releasing the lever will stop the discharge

4. SWEEP – while discharging the extinguisher start moving towards the fire, keep the extinguisher aimed at the base of the fire
and sweep back and forth until the flames appear to be out once the fire has been extinguished.

Note: Make sure to watch the fire area if the fire reignites, repeat the process always remember that smoke generated from the fire can
be harmful and even fatal. Never attempt to extinguish a fire unless it is safe to do so.

FIRE DRILL
- a process of practicing how an establishment/building would be evacuated in the event of a fire or other emergencies.
- The purpose of fire drills
- in buildings, is to ensure that everyone knows how to exit at the fastest and safest way.

THE CONDUCT OF FIRE DRILLS IN SCHOOLS

1. Alarm – Fire alarms are signaled.
2. Response – Students will have to be alert for fire, and smoke.
3. Evacuation – All school personnel and students evacuate, following pre-determined ways to the evacuation areas.
4. Assembly – At the designated evacuation area, students are grouped accordingly.
5. Head Count – When drill participants reached the designated evacuation area, teachers-in-charge must check the attendance
of the class to make sure that everyone is counted in.
6. Evaluation – Evaluation of the drill is conducted to identify problems during the drill and how to correct these problems.

02 – Key Concepts, Principles, and Elements of DRR

FIRE ESCAPE PLAN
How to Create a Fire Evacuation Plan for your Household:
1. Plan for everyone
2. Find two ways out
3. Involve children in planning
4. Have a backup plan
5. Share with everyone
6. Practice regularly

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

- is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through analysis and management of the causal factors of disasters.
It leads to:
- reduced exposure to hazards
 - lessening of vulnerability of people and assets
- effective management of land and the environment
- improved preparedness for adverse events

The key principles of DRR justify why certain changes have to be made and explain the urgency of creating a DRRM plan.

Key principles should be able to make people realize why disaster plans must be a priority in every community, especially those that are
vulnerable to hazards.

All DRRM are created on the following premises:

1. Development can either increase or decrease disaster risk.
2. DRRM policies, laws, and regulations can save lives if properly and strictly implemented in the community. Action is the key
component of DRRM. The ultimate purpose of DRRM is to save lives and properties.
3. The main objective of DRRM is to build a resilient community. If community members are well-prepared and equipped with
sufficient knowledge, the impact of disaster can be lessened (Rimando, R. E. 2015).

ELEMENTS OF D.R.R.
PREVENTION
- The outright avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters. Prevention expresses the concept and intention
to completely avoid potential adverse impacts through action taken in advance. Can be in the form of proper land use or using
suitable engineering design.
MITIGATION
- The lessening or limitation of the adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters. While the adverse impacts of hazards
often cannot be prevented fully, their scale or severity can be substantially lessened by various strategies and actions.
ADAPTION

- The adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which
moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.

PREPAREDNESS
- The knowledge and capacities developed by governments, professional response and recovery organizations, communities
and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of likely, imminent or current hazard events
or conditions.
RESPONSE
- The provision of emergency services and public assistance during or immediately after a disaster in order to save lives, reduce
health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic subsistence needs of the people affected. Disaster response is
predominantly focused in immediate and short-term needs and is sometimes called “disaster relief.”
RECOVERY
- The restoration and improvement of facilities, livelihoods, and living conditions of disaster-affected communities, including
efforts to reduce disaster risk factors. The recovery task of rehabilitation and reconstruction begins soon after the emergency
phase has ended, and should be based on pre-existing strategies and policies that facilitate clear institutional responsibilities
for recovery action and enable public preparation.

IMPORTANCE OF D.R.R.
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) education is crucial for all communities living in disaster prone areas.
- A disaster risk reduction assists us to consider our emergency response activities in light of existing and new disaster risks.
- Building resilience, Is the main importance of disaster risk reduction. Disaster risk reduction is vital for building a more
equitable and sustainable future.

Why disaster risk reduction is important during and after emergencies:

- A disaster risk reduction approach helps us consider our emergency response activities in light of existing and new disaster
risks.
- DRR approaches and tools will prevent relief work from rebuilding the vulnerabilities that made people prone to similar
disasters. DRR provides valuable insights into the underlying factors of vulnerability to hazards and the features of those
hazards.
COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT
- a procedure that directs to a locally appropriate and locally “owned” strategy for disaster preparedness and risk reduction. It
also covers a community-approach projects, activities, and program planning for relief, recovery, and resettlement.

- It pertains to the idea of processing the active engagement in identifying, analyzing, treatment, monitoring, and evaluation of
disaster risk to ease vulnerabilities and enhancing the capacities of at-risk communities.

IMPORTANCE
Including both planning and implementation, understanding the Term “Community”.

Community is a term that has a wide range of usage, which includes the following:
- It can be defined geographically: such as a cluster of households, a small village, or a neighborhood in a town.
- It can be defined by shared experience, such as particular interest groups, ethnic groups, professional groups, language
groups, particular hazard-exposed groups, etc.
- It can be defined by sector, such as the farmers, fisher folk, business sector, etc.
- It can be used to refer to groupings that are both affected by and can assist in the mitigation of hazards and reduction of
vulnerabilities.

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

- It looks at disaster as a question of vulnerability
- It recognizes people’s existing capacities and aims to strengthen them
- It contributes to addressing the roots of people’s vulnerabilities and transforming or removing the social structures generating
inequity and underdevelopment
- It considers people’s participation as essential factor to disaster risk reduction
- It puts premium on the organizational capacities of vulnerable sectors
- It mobilizes the less vulnerable sectors into partnerships with vulnerable sectors in DRR and development projects

COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS PLAN

COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS
- the ability of a community to prepare for, withstand, and recover from public health incidents in both the short and long term;
coordinate training and provide guidance to support community involvement with preparedness efforts.

PLANNING
- an important aspect to community disaster preparedness. In planning, continuous analyzing and anticipating any type of
disaster is very essential. In order to achieve what is expected in the plan, proper conduct of training, drills, and exercises
must be well implemented in the community.

FIRE ESCAPE PLAN

- One of the most important tools every individual and family can have to protect themselves in possible emergencies is a family
emergency preparedness plan, complete with a list of contacts during an emergency.

WHY IS A DISASTER PLAN IMPORTANT?

- The goal of disaster preparedness is to lessen the impact of disasters on vulnerable populations, to ready an organization for
an influx of activity, and to design a coordinated plan that reduces the waste of resources, time, and efforts.

- Through a community preparedness plan, people in the community are informed and trained on how to prepare for a disaster
and emergencies to avoid panic and to lessen the impact of such disaster.

SURVIVAL KIT
- According to Philippine Red Cross, the first 72 hours after a disaster is very crucial. There might be shortage of food
supply and water, and unavailability of electricity and communication or access to emergency services.

- Emergency or survival kits are things that are commonly found inside our home like water, flashlight, and hygiene kits.
- Families should be prepared to be independent and be able to survive for at least 3 days or 72 hours. To be able to do this the
kits must be organized and easily to access, it should be checked every six months to make sure the items are still in good
condition and far from expirations.

SHELTER WATER

- Tents - According to Philippine Red Cross, a person can

- Sleeping bag survive without food intake for 5 days as long as
there is water intake.
- Tarp - Prepare clean water in clean airtight containers for
washing, drinking and cooking: 1 gallon or equivalent of
4 liters per person per day (1 liter for drinking and 3
liters for sanitation)
- Stored water must be changed to maintain its
freshness, effectiveness and avoid contamination.

FOOD TOOLS

- Store only nonperishable food like canned foods. - Maps with indication of evacuation sites and routes
- According to Philippine Red Cross, food should be - Emergency Number to call
sufficient for three days consumption of every family - Whistle
member. - Flashlight with extra batteries (or self-powered
- Also include eating and drinking utensils. flashlight)
- List of Emergency numbers to call
- Multipurpose knife
- Matches or lighter and candles
- AM radio transistor with extra batteries or self-powered
- Blankets

FIRE STARTING LIGHT AND SIGNALING INSTRUMENTS

- Matches - Flashlight
- Lighter - Mirror
- Candle - Whistle

FIRST-AID KIT PERSONAL EFFECTS AND HYGIENE KIT

- Disposable Gloves - Extra Clothing (Short and long sleeved shirts, pants,
- Adhesive Strips jackets, socks, etc.)
- Sterile medical tap - Undergarments
- Thermometer - Antibacterial soap
- Adhesive Bandage - Toothbrushes
- First aid manual - Toothpaste
- Pain reliever and antibiotics - Comb/ hairbrush
- Anti-diarrhea medication - Tissue paper
- Prescription medication (if needed)

OTHERS OTHERS

- Important documents Birth certificates, passport, - Prepaid cards

marriage contract, diploma, insurance certificates, land - Batteries
titles, etc. - Emergency charger
- Keep these in a plastic envelope or any waterproof - Clothes
container
- Money should be in the form of cash and loose change
(ATMs may not be working)
03 – Policies of DRRM The Philippine DRRM Law RA 10121 and Its Implementing Rules
and Regulations
DRRM ACT
- According to National Economic and Development Authority, 2020, the Philippine DRRM Act of 2010 or Republic Act
No. 10121 as signed into law on May 27, 2010, provides the basic policies and coordination mechanism for DRRM through the
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMC) at the national, regional, and local levels.
- Section 15 of the law specifically indicates the criteria for identifying the lead DRRMC in “preparing for, responding to and
recovering from the effects of any disaster.”

WHAT ARE THE SALIENT FEATURES OF THE DRRM ACT

According to Disaster Risk Reduction Network Philippines, the following are the salient features of the DRRM Act:
- Coherence with international framework
- Adherence to universal norms, principles, and standards of humanitarian assistance
- Good governance through transparency and accountability
- Strengthened institutional mechanism for DRRM
- Integrated, coordinated, multi‐sectoral, inter-agency, and community-based approach to disaster risk reduction
- Empowerment of local government units (LGUs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) as key partners in disaster risk
reduction
- Integration of the DRRM into the educational system
- Establishment of the DRRM Fund (DRRMF) at the national and local levels
- Providing for provisions on the declaration of a state of calamity, remedial measures, prohibited acts and penalties