KUCHING: LiSA or Life Saving Appliances, which were among the safety equipment exhibited by the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department at the Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia (AKM) Tour here, will be installed in several recreation areas in the state to curb drowning cases.
Malaysian Fire and Rescue director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid (pic) said that the areas that have been identified are located in the Bau district near here and Telok Melano, about 140km from the city, as several cases of drowning have been recorded in these locations.
"In Sarawak, we have installed LiSA boxes in Miri and several other hotspots identified by the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department.
"These hotspots usually have drownings at high-risk water bodies meaning that there have been more than five cases of drowning in three years.
"We have identified the hotspots not only at beaches and rivers, but also at rapids, ponds and areas at risk where people picnic, carry out leisure activities and fish," he said when met by reporters at the Sarawak edition of the AKM in Dataran Perayaan here Saturday (Aug 6).
He said the LiSA box, which has some equipment such as life jackets, first aid kit and rope, can be used by the public in an effort to save victims before the arrival of rescue personnel at the scene.
A siren will sound if the LiSA box is opened by the public and nearby fire and rescue stations will receive notifications from the GPS system installed in the box.
In the meantime, Mohammad Hamdan invited the public to visit the fire and rescue exhibition in conjunction with the AKM tour which ends Sunday (Aug 7) to learn tips and awareness about fires from 35 officers on duty and buy fire extinguishers at a cheaper price.
According to him, among the activities being held by the department during the tour include a public safety awareness campaign, exhibitions on machinery and antique firefighting equipment.
Earlier, he had officiated a Fire and Water Safety Campaign to instil awareness among the public about the functions and role of the fire and rescue department. - Bernama
