THE use of homemade protective headgear was showcased by students of the Special Education (Sped) learning institution in Baguio City during the third quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill.

Made from ordinary foot mattresses and rugs, the school’s Parents and Teachers Association decided to make use of such materials as an alternative from notebooks to shield them from debris which may hit them if an earthquake may occur.

Office of the Civil Defense Cordillera information officer Ivy Carasi explained this was the first time the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council made use of the students of SPED as a pilot area as 100 percent of the students are with special needs and gifted children.

“This is the first time we made use of a school having children with special needs and we saw their strengths and weaknesses. We noted here in Sped Center the special treatment being applied to students as a positive measure by the schools authorities in times of disasters,” Carasi said.

Carasi also acknowledged SPED’s PTA for being the first school in the region to make use of an alternative or improvised headgear as a protection in times of need.

“We want to make SPED as an example in our earthquake orientations just like Pasig City who came up with alternative equipments. We encourage the various public schools in the region to follow suit,” Carasi added.

Aside from this, the CDRRMC recommends to schools in the city to look for wider alternative evacuation centers adjacent to learning institution, aside from first aid kits to be stored in classrooms for use during emergencies and disasters.