The Volunteer Organization of Civil Protection works to combat disasters in Italy at the local level. It is composed of volunteers selected from local communities who are trained in search and rescue, medical care, and disaster preparedness. The organization coordinates with municipal authorities and the National Service of Civil Protection to respond quickly during emergencies through evacuation, first aid, search and rescue, and ensuring vulnerable groups receive priority assistance.

1. Makao Thaksin
Team Leader
Volunteers Organization of Civil Protection
Zone 5
Modena Province
Italy
07 December,2013
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Italy is very vulnerable to earthquake hazard due to existence of
volcano
In 1976, Fruili earthquake caused the death toll rise to 989
In 2009, L’Aquila earthquake occurred causing loss of 308 people
Several fire hazards has occurred in Italy causing loss of
numerous lives in last 30 years
In a fire hazard in Italy 100 people were killed in 1988
Others disasters are also common in Italy
To combat with disasters, Italy has institionalized National
Service of Civil Protection
Under this institution at local and community level, “ Volunteer
Organization of Civil Protection” is working for provide service at
emergency level.
07 December,2013
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“ Volunteer Organization of Civil Protection” is working as an
supporting organization for “Municipal Operation Centre”
07 December,2013
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The volunteers organisation of civil protection keep growing
thanks also to a very foreseeing law(Framework Act no 266/91)
recognising the added value of organised volunteering as an
expression ofsolidarity, participation and pluralism, while
supporting its organisational development of National Service of
Civil Protection in 1991.
Volunteers are selected from local community
Each community has 10-20 volunteers
Volunteers work under the supervision of a Team Leader
appointed by Municipal Operation Centre at the time emergency
The organization has its search and rescue force and medical team
07 December,2013
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The volunteers organisation of civil protection has its funding
from Municipal Operation Centre
Municipal Operation Centre has its source of money to the
National Functional Center
Using the funding from the National Functional Center,
Municipal Operation Centre buys required equipment for
Volunteers organisation of civil protection
It also maintains relationship with “Italy Red Cross”, so that they
can get necessary support from Red Cross when necessary
07 December,2013
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Providing Training
Arrange meetings
Raising awareness
Educating people regarding disaster preparedness
Rescuing people at the time of emergency like
earthquake, fire hazard, land slide etc
07 December,2013
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Training program is arranged in every 4 months
20-30 people are provided training at a time
Trainings are arranged in community playground or open spaces
In the schools, mock drills are carrying out to make children how
to response in case of an emergence
Training incorporates disaster preparedness, fire safety, rescue
operation in earthquake, land slide and other disasters, medical
care and first aid etc
The training continues for 5-6 days
07 December,2013
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8. 
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Training program is arranged in every 4 months
20-30 people are provided training at a time
Trainings are arranged in community playground or open spaces
In the schools, mock drills are carrying out to make children how
to response in case of an emergence
Training incorporates disaster preparedness, fire safety, rescue
operation in earthquake, land slide and other disasters, medical
care and first aid etc
The training continues for 5-6 days
07 December,2013
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9. • In order to raise awareness among community people, pamphlet are
distributed among local people regarding what to do at the time of a
disaster
• This issues are also discussed with people attending the monthly
meeting
• People are informed about the casualties of earthquake, land
slide, fire so that they realize the importance of being aware of
disasters
07 December,2013
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10. Preparedness
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They encourage the residents to install alarming system in the
house to warn in case of fire hazard
Volunteers Organization of Civil Protection keeps knowledge about
most vulnerable buildings with children, old person, disables, so
that they get the prime concern at the time of rescue activity
To inform people to reach the shortest path leading to safe shelter or
open space
07 December,2013
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11. • Supervise the evacuation process
• Provide first aid to the injured
• Transferring injured people to the hospital at the time of
emergency
• They assists fire worker at the time rescue of fire hazard
07 December,2013
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12. • Volunteers are paid members of the organization. So, more
dedicated to their task
• Motivating people about building structurally disaster resistant
building has been successful
• Reduced vulnerability by providing the sensitive group priority
while rescuing
07 December,2013
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A fire hazard occurred at a garment factory in Tuscany in December, 2013
Manager of the Garment informed the Volunteer Organization of Civil
Protection Team Leader
Within 10 minutes volunteers appeared in the scenario
They helped to evacuate the Garments and extinguish fire
No severe damage caused
Fire Brigade reached the place sometimes later
07 December,2013
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An earthquake of 7 Richter scale was felt in Province of Modena
in march,2013
Few buildings were damaged but only 7 died
It was because the volunteers reached the effected side early and
started to rescue them
The injured people was transferred to the hospital
People whose buildings have collapsed were rehabilitate to
temporarily shelter
07 December,2013
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