'Once bitten, twice shy'?
published: Friday | March 7, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
"ONCE BITTEN, twice shy" is a well-known cliché we used here in Jamaica. It is also the title of the biggest selling single of the hard rock group known as Great White, the band at the centre of The Station night club fire that claimed 98 lives in Rhode Island, United States recently. The patrons, estimated to be around 300, watched unconcerned as pyrotechnic fireworks greeted the entrance on stage of the Jack Russell band but became transfixed with instant fear as the night club became quickly engulfed in deadly flames.
So, once bitten twice shy, are we in this country going with full speed ahead, to take a serious look at safety issues concerning night clubs and other venues of sports and entertainment? Are individuals going to take personal responsibility for their own safety by avoiding venues that have not fully complied with national safety regulation. And, are patrons or venue owners appraised of national safety standard under their license to operate?
Entertainment venues, especially those that host sizeable crowds must move full speed ahead to ensure safety standards and procedures in an effort to avert disasters like that of the Rhode Island club and the stampede at the Californian club that claimed the lives of 21 patrons four days earlier.
These venues should be required by law, at the start of events, to briefly outline the emergency evacuation procedures similar to that given at the beginning of airline flights.
