Minister Liu Shih-fang: 130,000 People, from Age 8 to 81, Have Obtained Disaster Prevention Specialist Certification

(CNA, Taipei, 17th) Minister of the Interior Liu Shih-fang said today that a total of 130,000 people have obtained disaster prevention specialist certification, with the youngest being 8 years old and the oldest 81. The Ministry of the Interior continues to invite various sectors, including the military, alternative service draftees, village chiefs, building security guards, and taxi drivers, to join and strengthen the public's ability to respond to complex disasters.

In a press release, the Ministry of the Interior stated that to promote public disaster prevention awareness, it held the 'Taiwan Public Safety Guidelines Seminar' for the first time this afternoon at the 'National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying),' a cultural public space, in collaboration with 20 religious groups. Minister Liu Shih-fang and others spoke at the event, and the Tzu Chi Foundation shared its long-term practical experience in disaster prevention work and achievements in promoting disaster prevention specialist training, with over 1,000 people in attendance.

Liu stated that Taiwan's location in an earthquake zone and frequent typhoon incursions highlight the importance of regular disaster preparedness. The implementation of the system cannot rely solely on the government; it requires the participation of more civilian forces with disaster knowledge, and disaster prevention specialists are the most crucial community guardians.

Chao Jui-hua, Commissioner of the Kaohsiung City Police Department, pointed out that the Taiwan Public Safety Guidelines help the public prepare for situations like earthquakes and tsunamis, enhancing their response capabilities. He advised the public to download the 'NPA Service App' for real-time access to evacuation information and police services.

Wang Chih-ping, Director-General of the Kaohsiung City Fire Bureau, promoted the installation of residential fire alarms. These alarms emit a high-decibel warning when they detect smoke or abnormally high temperatures, alerting residents to evacuate quickly. They are categorized by function into 'smoke-detecting' and 'heat-detecting' types, suitable for different spaces like living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, and can be installed simply by sticking them on. Kaohsiung City has had 138 successful warning cases in the past six years, and the city government provides subsidies for old apartments and houses, allowing each household to apply for one free fire alarm.

The Ministry of the Interior stated that the Taiwan Public Safety Guidelines have been distributed to all 1,195,668 households in Kaohsiung City. Concurrently, 14,243 disaster prevention specialists in Kaohsiung are continuously involved in community disaster prevention work.