Children’s fire safety club rebranded to include water safety

As reported by Bernama, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has announced the rebranding of the Children’s Fire Safety Club, formerly known as Kelab 3K, to Kelab Bomba Cilik (KBOC).

The rebranding aims to broaden the scope of the programme to include water safety in addition to fire safety.

JBPM director-general, Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad, said the initiative targets early education institutions, including preschools, nurseries, and kindergartens, to provide essential safety knowledge for children aged five to six.

The curriculum expansion comes in response to concerning statistics from 2020 to 2023, showing an average of 65 fire-related deaths and 53 drowning cases involving children under six years old.

“Kelab 3K focused solely on fire safety awareness. Now, under Kelab Bomba Cilik, the curriculum has been enhanced to include water safety awareness as well,” said Datuk Nor Hisham.

Kelab Bomba Cilik aims to align with national educational standards

Datuk Nor Hisham explained that the rebranding of Kelab Bomba Cilik (KBOC) was part of an effort to standardise the fire brigade’s branding across educational levels.

The programme aligns with other fire safety initiatives such as the Student Aid Fire Brigade, Fire Brigade (higher education), Fire Cadets (secondary school), and Junior Firefighters (primary school).

Kelab Bomba Cilik is now open to all preschools, kindergartens, and nurseries.

As of today, the existing 1,212 Kelab 3K clubs, comprising 34,668 members, will transition to KBOC automatically.

The programme aims to foster safety awareness among children from a young age, addressing both fire and water safety concerns.

Nationwide institutions involved in safety education initiative

During the launch of KBOC at the Hang Tuah Fire and Rescue Station, Datuk Nor Hisham presented plaques and certificates of appreciation to representatives from various preschool agencies, including the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council and the Ministry of Education.

Other agencies involved include the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, the Department of National Unity and National Integration, the Community Development Department (KEMAS), and the Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM).

The collaboration between JBPM and these educational bodies underscores the programme’s commitment to incorporating fire and water safety education into the early learning curriculum.

This initiative is expected to benefit children and educational institutions across Malaysia.

Public urged to remain vigilant of water risks during adverse weather

In addition to the rebranding, Datuk Nor Hisham urged the public to be cautious when visiting water recreational areas, especially during unpredictable weather conditions.

He noted that several water sites in Gombak, Hulu Selangor, Perak, and Sarawak had experienced sudden surges following heavy rainfall.

His reminder comes as part of the broader water safety awareness incorporated into Kelab Bomba Cilik.

The department emphasises the importance of public awareness to prevent future water-related accidents.

Children’s fire safety club rebranded to include water safety: Summary

The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has rebranded the Children’s Fire Safety Club from Kelab 3K to Kelab Bomba Cilik (KBOC) to extend its focus to both fire and water safety.

Aimed at children aged five to six in early education settings, KBOC will provide comprehensive safety education.

This change follows concerning data on child fire and drowning deaths.

The initiative, aligned with national education standards, has been launched across preschools, kindergartens, and nurseries, with over 1,200 clubs now transitioning to the new programme.