AKM Tour: Smoke house demo exposes visitors to fire escape techniques

MELAKA, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- In conjunction with the Melaka edition of the Keluarga Malaysia Aspirations (AKM) Tour, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) brought a special smoke house to educate visitors on techniques to escape a fire.

Melaka JBPM Building Safety Enforcement Branch chief Norshuhada Amsari said the exposure to the technique was crucial considering that in most fire cases, victims usually died from smoke inhalation.

“Usually, demonstrations from JBPM are about how to put out fires, so this time we took the initiative to bring this smoke house to explain and show the people how to get out of burning premises.

“Most of the time during a fire, we will stand up and rush to escape, but that way, we are at risk of suffocation because the smoke will fill up the space. So, the right way is to crawl and if it is dark, crawl while feeling the wall until you find the exit,” she told Bernama.

She added that through the session, visitors were not only given information but also got to experience being in a small, dark, hot and smoky space.

Norshuhada said the smoke house demonstration also allowed visitors to see how firefighters carry out rescue operations during a fire incident.

“Visitors attendance rate is very encouraging. So, on the last day of the Melaka AKM Tour today, we invite visitors to come to our booth to see JBPM assets and watch various demonstrations,” she said.

She also said that the smoke house is expected to be brought to the next AKM Tour series to give exposure to people on how to escape a fire.

Today is the last day of the three-day Melaka AKM Tour, held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC).

-- BERNAMA