Sergey Meleshkin: 'The health and well-being of people directly depend on the competence and dedication of rescuers'
Powerful Equipment
The event began with a visit to the Vityaz Fire and Rescue Squad. The squad is indispensable in complex fires where emergency rescue, diving, chemical, radiological, and even climbing operations are required. By the way, very soon "Vityaz" will get a new home. It will move into a building located on the Starobabinovichskoye highway in Vitebsk. This location was chosen due to the high population density of the nearby Bilevo microdistrict.
– We pay special attention to improving the service and living conditions of employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations bodies and units of the Vitebsk region. This year, installation and construction work worth more than 2 million rubles is planned, – said Sergey Meshkin. – The construction of a new fire and rescue station in Polotsk has begun, the gasification of Fire and Rescue Station No. 1 in Glubokoye is being completed, and a major overhaul with modernization elements of the fire station in Vitebsk is underway.
It should be noted that for several years now, there has been a systematic renewal of vehicles from all sources of funding. This year, it is planned to purchase two 30-meter fire truck ladders for the Braslav and Liozno district emergency departments, with a total cost of over 1.2 million rubles.
No Obstacles
For employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, there are no obstacles when it comes to saving human lives; they are ready to cross forests, jump into water, sometimes sacrificing their health.
– In the summer and autumn periods, people often get lost in the forest. The search and rescue service comes to their aid. It is equipped with a search and rescue vehicle, an all-terrain vehicle, a buggy, and specialized equipment – a quadcopter, GPS navigators, GPS trackers, and climbing gear, – said Sergey Meshkin. – A total of 32 people work here. Since the beginning of this year, the search and rescue service has responded to calls six times, and four people have been found, including two children.
At Lake Polonskoye in Vorony, journalists were demonstrated water rescue equipment.
– Today, we are providing assistance on the RAPTER-550 search and rescue boat, which has no analogues in the Vitebsk region, – noted Sergey Meshkin. – The vessel is capable of speeds up to 80 km/h, and its carrying capacity is 1200 kg. The availability of the boat undoubtedly contributes to a more prompt response to emergencies.
The regional department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations also received modern equipment and technology under the international technical assistance program "Improving Cross-border Cooperation in Flood Prevention, Flood Management, and Environmental Pollution Reduction." Within its framework, two projects are being implemented: the first – in the area of flood prevention and management, the second – on improving readiness and building capacity for emergency response through adaptation measures to climate change.
Prevention is Important
In conclusion, Sergey Nikolaevich reminded that any emergency is better to prevent than to deal with the consequences later. Unfortunately, today there is an increase in fires in 13 districts of the region. In the first half of the year, 511 fires occurred in the region, and 59 people died in fires. The main causes of fires are careless handling of fire. According to the results of the first six months of this year, 72.8% of those who died were intoxicated.
The regional Department of Emergency Situations pays special attention to fostering a culture of life safety in society. They organize and conduct thematic events and campaigns, including for children and youth, and actively cooperate with cultural institutions: for example, the Belarusian puppet theater "Lyalka" has introduced a number of performances on fire safety themes. Important reminders from rescuers are posted at bus stops and on public transport.
– Currently, our region is a leader in the country in establishing safety centers: the first opened in 2017 in Vitebsk, the second in 2019 in Barani, the third in 2020 in Novopolotsk. More than 70,000 children have already been trained there. This is practically every second student in the Vitebsk region, – added Sergey Meleshkin. – Local authorities have picked up the baton of creating similar platforms. Very recently, the prevention center "Alternative" started operating in Novolukoml. Educational institutions in the region have not stayed aside either. This year, the team of VSU named after P. Masherov won the regional life safety competition among universities "Students. Safety. Future", and took bronze at the republican stage.
Words of gratitude
– Today, the Ministry of Emergency Situations is a powerful operational structure with modern equipment, technology, and highly qualified professionals who perform a wide range of tasks in extinguishing fires and eliminating emergencies under difficult conditions, – emphasized Sergey Meleshkin. – The health and well-being of people, and the preservation of social facilities directly depend on the clear and coordinated actions of rescuers, their competence, and dedication.
Dear colleagues, veterans of the fire service, thank you for your courage. I wish you and your families health, well-being, peace, and good luck. Happy holiday!