| The skills of the teachers at the David Rose School for the Handicapped, located at Thomas Lands in the city, were put to the ultimate test earlier this week when they were confronted by a fire.According to Ms Dionne McKenzie,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, acting Headmistress of the school, which caters to about 189 handicapped children, it was at just about 09:45 hours on Wednesday when she was aroused by a smell of something burning.Concerned for the wellbeing of the children and the staff, Ms McKenzie immediately began a search to determine the origin of the scent. It was not too long before her sense of smell led her to a smoking lamp located on the outside of the southern wall of the school building.With no hesitation, McKenzie said, she alerted her teaching staffers, who guided some 117 students, through sign language and other skilful tactics, to successfully evacuate the building in less than 15 minutes.The fire service was summoned and, according to Ms McKenzie, she was pleasantly surprised when a fire engine arrived at the school approximately three minutes after being summoned.Fire officers were, however, not required to engage action, since technicians of the Guyana Power and Light company, who were in the vicinity, had arrived on the scene and were able to diagnose and rectify the problem.According to McKenzie, she was informed that the power company was undertaking some work in the area, and this might have resulted in excessive power being directed to the school’s electrical system.The head teacher related that while the school has, on a number of occasions, practised fire drill, this is the first time that a real evacuation process was ever warranted.She expressed satisfaction that 24 of her 26 staffers who were on duty yesterday were able to execute their skills optimally, ensuring that all of the children were relocated to a safe place efficiently.The Ministry of Education, which governs the operation of the school, was also notified of the ordeal, which lasted just under one hour, McKenzie said.The school for the handicapped is tasked with teaching mentally challenged as well as deaf children; and, according to McKenzie, parents enrol their children with the institution from as early as the age of six.She disclosed that those who are mentally challenged can remain at the learning institution until they are 21 years old, while those who are deaf graduate at the age of 18. |
