Ang Magiting - The Official Web Site of Rotary Club Makati North

Directional signs that would help in an emergency

By: Sec. Bob Hecks
June 22, 2011

For the last few days some of us have probably been more aware of workplace buildings that we frequent for directional signs that would help in an emergency. Would they be useful in the dark or in smoke? Our guest speakers last week are in the business of doing something about that, and they presented their service well.
At President’s Time, Pres. Mac expressed hope that we will, by now, have Department of Health clearance to give away the P6million worth of powdered milk food donated by Pacific Healthcare. Let’s ask him about that today.

This project is a major undertaking, as we can see from the details in “President’s Message” in last week’s ‘Ang Magiting’. We should cheerfully part with P1,000 each to provide the right feeding bottles and any other help that the beneficiaries need. We look forward to the visit as guest speaker of Matthew Squires, the CEO of Pacific Healthcare.

We must be all hoping that Pres. Mac will continue to be a major source of guest speakers in the Rotary Year. Introducing guest speakers PP Derek Pyrah (RC Central Mactan) and PP David Poley (RC Cagayan de Oro), he explained how both are executives of the Cebu-based NightBright Company, which produces photoluminescent signs which are visible in the dark. Some specimens of these signs were at hand for us to examine.
Presenting on behalf of NightBright Asia Pacific Inc., company President Derek Pyrah told us how important it is that people can get out of a building quickly when they need to and how Full Egress Systems, as they are called, can save lives when the emergency strikes.

The photoluminescent signs need no electricity or batteries. They are categorized into four types: Directional (e.g. EXIT), Fire instructions, Informational, and Other Directional. The signs are being fitted now in several large buildings, including Makati Medical Center. The signs (internally-placed) have a warranty of 20 years.

Derek also told us that NightBright’s CSR mandate is to help underprivileged women and children in the areas of healthy education and nutrition.