Shanghai has established teams in its 18 districts and Chongming County to help with emergencies involving hotels.

The teams, which will have about 10 members each, will be made up of hotel and tourism agency employees, said the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission.

Team members will be responsible for evacuations, first aid and raising the alarm when fire or other emergencies strike.

They'll also teach disaster prevention and first-aid to other employees and tourists, said the commission.

The commission's districts and county branches have held lectures and practical drills for team members to educate them about what to do in an emergency.

Yesterday, a fire drill was successfully carried out at the Sofitel Jin Jiang Oriental Pudong Hotel in Pudong New Area. "The team members are still relatively inexperienced, but we expect them to play important roles in the future in ensuring tourists' safety," said Su Guangjian, director of the commission's market management section.

(Shanghai Daily December 11, 2007)