Raghav Chakravarthy, the co-founder of QShala, recently shared this personal experience with us. We choked with emotion to see the positive effect of Safety Quest programs. This Stop-Drop-Roll technique has been internalised by Raghav, and it helped him when it mattered!
Read on …
***
I’m Raghav, co-founder of QShala, a curiosity platform that fosters engagement through quizzes and quests. For over five years, we’ve been conducting the Safety Quest quiz in collaboration with the Arundhati Foundation. This quiz is dedicated to promoting safety awareness among school children. Through this initiative, participants learn various aspects of safety, including its scientific principles, effective emergency responses, preventive measures, and innovative safety solutions. Little did I know that one key safety procedure I learned as a quizmaster would end up saving my life.
On February 25th, 2024, we hosted the State Finals of the Ambedkar Memorial Constitution Quiz, organized by the Government of Karnataka, Department of Social Welfare, at the Palace Grounds in Bangalore. Prior to this, school-level, district, and regional rounds had been conducted over the preceding three weeks. The event went smoothly, and after the quiz, I was distributing certificates to various department officials who had supported us in executing the quiz effectively.
As I handed out certificates, I noticed large LED screens and laser beam lights in the background. Suddenly, I felt a wave of heat behind me. When I turned, I was shocked to see that my kurta had caught fire, flames licking at my back. Some officials nearby began shouting, “Fire! Fire! Fire!” Without hesitation, I remembered the crucial lesson from the Safety Quest quiz: “Stop – Drop – Roll.” I immediately halted what I was doing, dropped to the ground, and rolled vigorously until the fire was extinguished. If it weren’t for this life-saving technique ingrained in me through the quiz, the outcome could have been catastrophic had I panicked and fled the stage.
Thankfully, only my kurta was burnt, and I escaped without any significant burns. In conclusion, I urge everyone to exercise caution around laser lights on stages. If you notice excessive heat or any safety concerns, inform the organizers to take appropriate action, such as replacing or turning off the lights. Always remember the three-word mantra to extinguish fires: “Stop – Drop – Roll.” I am deeply indebted to Mrs. Shubhangi Tambwekar and Mr. Sanjay Tambwekar, whose guidance and support have made the Safety Quest quiz possible for many years. Without the knowledge and training I gained from this quiz, I doubt I would have had the presence of mind to respond as I did.
– Raghav Chakravarthy
