Simulation is a technique for practice and learning that can be applied to many different disciplines and trainees. It is a technique (not a technology) to replace and amplify real experiences with guided ones, often “immersive” in nature, that evoke or replicate substantial aspects of the real world in a fully interactive fashion. Simulation-based learning can be the way to develop health professionals’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes, whilst protecting citizens from unnecessary risks. 

On 6th of September 2019 in Sipoteni village, Calarasi district, a simulation exercise of a real-life emergency took place in order to test the capability of community to respond to a simulated emergency. The scenario that has been put in place by the professionals in coordination with local authorities and project staff put a focus on the fires, first aid and cooperation between professional and volunteer firefighters. The event took place in the community lyceum and started with the theoretical classes with all children. For the small ones, the teachers made Civil Protection classes, as for the older ones the professionals have made a trainee. 

According to the national statistics, are the most often hazards that occur throughout the year fires in the Republic of Moldova. Knowledge and capacities in handling an extinguisher, how to protect yourself and your family can not be learned only from theory, but from practice. In this context beside the information that pupils received as a theory, they had the possibility to try on their own various practices used in case of an emergency, such as first aid, handling of a fire extinguisher, helping  in a road accident. 

In the end, pupils participated in a fire simulation of an old building and in intervention between professionals and volunteers. This was done with an emphasis on the roles of local rescue-volunteer posts that exist in the community, and with the initiative for the people to volunteer and to be involved in the protection of their community.

The exercise, that took place in the frame of ProVoice project, put the basis of a complex and close to reality practice and methods to be used in case of an emergency, what are the steps that need to be followed, and what institutions need to work on together in order to prevent damage, victims and real life threatening events. 

The general feedback received from the participants is that this type of exercise should be organized in each lyceum, as only through practice the community members can gain the necessary skills for protecting themselves and avoiding emergencies.