Education on risk prediction and crisis response after disasters: Elementary school second graders

Abstract

In the present study, education on emergency responding after disasters was conducted at 2 elementary schools, in order to teach the students how to predict risks and how to respond in crises. The participants, 281 second graders, studied with multimedia teaching materials which included information about possible dangers when an earthquake occurs in their everyday life, such as on their way to school or while they were sleeping, and ways to protect themselves after disasters. Together with their guardians, they completed homework assignments that considered possible risks when disasters occur when they are on their way to school or in their sleeping area. Because of the young age of the participants, both numerical subjective ratings and free descriptions were evaluated. The results generally confirmed that the children had learned from this experience. The discussion deals with the importance of children learning not only possible dangers relating to disasters, but also ways to protect themselves, and with the importance of learning in cooperation with their guardians.