Municipal Program “School and Risks… Preparing to Protect” Reaches Over 100,000 Students and Teachers in Ten Years
Marking its 10th anniversary, the municipal program “School and Risks… Preparing to Protect!” has reached more than 100,000 students and teachers in Portimão’s public and private schools since its launch in 2014. Implemented by the Portimão City Council through the Municipal Civil Protection Service, the initiative has expanded significantly over the past decade.
In the school year that ended in June, more than 200 awareness-raising activities were carried out under the program. Designed to prepare the school community to respond to risk and emergency situations, the initiative has evolved to cover a wide range of areas—from natural disaster preparedness to Basic Life Support (BLS) and emergency response.
Today, the program equips students and teachers with essential knowledge on topics such as the correct use of the emergency number 112, natural and technological risks, forest fire prevention, and road and rail safety.
233 Awareness Activities in the 2024/2025 School Year
The 2024/2025 edition of “School and Risks… Preparing to Protect” began in October 2024 with coordination meetings with school boards and the presentation of the annual activity plan to all public and private schools in Portimão.
In May 2025, the program celebrated a decade of activity, reaching the milestone of 100,000 participants. Over the years, it has introduced new approaches and increased interaction with students, from preschool to secondary education. Notably, Basic Life Support training was introduced in elementary schools and will now accompany students throughout their school years.
The program continues to address key safety issues, including the use of 112, natural and technological hazards, hazardous materials, earthquakes, tsunamis, and forest fire prevention. Emergency preparedness kits—highlighted as life-saving tools in critical situations—also remain a central theme.
The final report for the school year, which ended in June, recorded 233 awareness-raising activities reaching over 10,000 participants, including around 9,500 students and 550 teachers and school staff. All requested activities and study visits were carried out without interfering with national exam schedules.
Basic Life Support Training with Automated External Defibrillators
To ensure that all municipal buildings open to the public are equipped with at least one Automated External Defibrillator (AED), the program also includes certified Basic Life Support with AED (BLS-AED) training for teachers and school staff.
So far, more than 1,200 AED operators have been trained, ensuring the operational readiness of Portimão’s 74 municipal AEDs, with at least two certified staff members in each public facility.
Simulation Exercises Strengthen Emergency Response
As in previous years, Portimão once again participated in the national earthquake drill “A Terra Treme”, now in its 12th edition. The entire school community took part, practicing the three key protective actions—Drop, Cover, and Hold On—followed by evacuation to designated meeting points.
On the same day, around 150 students and teachers from four local schools participated in a tsunami evacuation simulation at Praia da Rocha, following a mock earthquake scenario. The drill included activating warning sirens installed along Portimão’s riverside, at Santa Catarina Fortress, and at the 3 Castelos viewpoint. It tested both human and technical resources outlined in the Portimão Municipal Civil Protection Emergency Plan, ensuring the safe evacuation of participants to designated safe zones.
Building a Safer and More Resilient Portimão
Looking ahead, the 2025/2026 school year will continue to expand the program, offering a dynamic range of activities to strengthen the ability of students, teachers, and school staff to respond effectively to emergencies.
Beyond fostering resilience within schools, the program also spreads awareness to families, transforming children and young people into key advocates for emergency preparedness at home.
Through this and other complementary initiatives, the Portimão City Council reaffirms its commitment to building a safer and more resilient municipality, reinforcing its guiding principle: “Civil Protection Is All of Us.”
