The Fire Services Department (FSD) held a launching ceremony for the Winter Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Promotional Month at Tsim Sha Tsui Fire Station today (December 6). The ceremony marks the start of over a hundred promotional activities and a series of fire safety inspections scheduled for this month. The promotional month is organised by the FSD and funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. 

     The promotional month aims to disseminate four key messages among the public through various activities, namely "keep smoke stop doors closed", "prepare the 'three essentials' for fire escape", "annual inspection on fire service installations" and "safe use of lithium batteries and charging devices". 

     Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Director of Fire Services (Public Safety and Corporate Strategy), Mr Derek Armstrong Chan, expressed gratitude to the active support and participation of the 18 District Fire Safety Committees and the Fire Services Department Community Collaboration Network in disseminating disaster and emergency preparedness messages to the public. He also called on all sectors of society to continue the collaboration in upholding the spirit of "Disaster and Emergency Preparedness: A Priority for Life". 

     Mr Chan added that the FSD will soon launch a new FSD Community Emergency Responder scheme. Through the teaching of various fire prevention, firefighting, self-rescue, and escape skills, the FSD will impart comprehensive and practical knowledge of disaster and emergency preparedness to members of the public, so that they can respond effectively in emergencies such as drowning, traffic accidents, mountaineering accidents or cardiac arrest to save themselves and others. 

     The promotional month features a rich array of activities, with the 18 District Fire Safety Committees organising multiple local publicity events and actively mobilising community resources for focused promotion in various shopping malls and buildings. The FSD will also collaborate with various District Offices, District Fire Safety Committees and Fire Safety Ambassadors Honorary Presidents' Association (to be renamed as FSD Community Emergency Responder Honorary Presidents' Association to tie in with the launch of the new FSD Community Emergency Responder scheme) to organise disaster and emergency preparedness carnivals in various districts. The Department's publicity vehicle will also visit various districts to promote the messages among the public with short videos, leaflets and souvenirs. 

     The FSD is funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to implement the HKSAR Government Fire Services Department's Disaster Management Programme, with the Winter Disaster Emergency Preparedness Promotional Month being one of its initiatives. 

Ends/Friday, December 6, 2024
Issued at HKT 18:05

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