Some viewers would not have survived

Press, 12 April 1978, Page 15

Some viewers would not have survived

By

KEN COATES

If it did nothing else, TV2’s “National Surviv 1 Test” convinced at least one viewer just how incompetent he would be in the face of disaster. My score was a miserable seven out of 150, largely because of my having to subtract 42 for having flunked the last section, on preparedness. I have neither a handy bedside torch, nor a home fire extinguisher; and nor have I completed defensive driving, first aid, or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation courses.

Time spent on research, the inclusion of old news film, and, realistic disaster simulations all combined to make the two-hour programme a reasonably absorbing piece of television. It was probably most valuable for the number of myths it laid to rest, such as putting oil or butter on burns, or clapping someone who is choking on the back. However, several well intentioned ploys did not quite come off. One was the showing of Civil Defence heads in the bunker beneath the Bees hive, in Wellington.

Viewers were told that an exercise aimed at bring people together at one hour’s notice had been entirely successful. But it seemed strange that highranking policemen had been able to dress to the nines in their best uni-

forms at such short notice. Little was done to define the role of the headquarters or to explain how it works, and as a result this section of the programme was, at best, humdrum. The experiment of using Christ’s College boys to work on a maze puzzle

under the stress of noise and strobe lights did not seem to work out quite as expected. It merely seemed to prove that boys concentrating on the task set them were able to complete that task well in spite of stress. However, Bryan Allpress was able to explain the faster time by pointing out that some people apparently perform better under stress.

The programme was a good excuse to sere i

again that, marvellous old film showing an interview with Mr Taiboys, when he was Minister of Agriculture.

The interview was proceeding along measured, predictable lines, when the studio began to shake. Mr Taiboys exclaimed, “Oh, my God,” and fled, as did the interviewer. Only the cameraman remained at his post. It was memorable, and certainly made the point that earthquakes can strike when we least expect them. Fascinating film from the Napier earthquake was included, and full coverage was given to the Wahine disaster. Viewers who had watched TVl’s “Sunday. Magazine,” programme would have had a double dose of the Wahine, because that channel showed much of the same old news footage — presumably in a bid to get in before its rival.

The inclusion of “hidden menaces” was an excellent idea, but many were difficult to recognise.

There was also some confusion over one of the questions which related to the man who had just suffered a heart attack. “If you have no knowledge of first aid . ..” went the question, and the correct answer was to place the man in the recovery position, and to keep airways open. It sounded remarkably like first-aid knowledge to me.

It was intriguing to learn about what to do for a knocked-out, twitching cricketer, and reassuring to know that the katipo spider’s bite is not lethal. Generally, advice contained in the questions and answers were practical, and related to everyday life. If the programme helps to save only one life, it will have been well worth the effort.