Disaster prevention education in Hyogo Prefecture

1. Lessons from the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake

What we should learn from disasters can be divided into 8 categories.

1. Awareness for disaster prevention.
2. Measures and preparation systems for disasters
3. Disaster prevention literacy
4. Respect for nature and its power
5. Importance of human lives
6. Volunteer spirit
7. Mental care
8. School opened to the community

2. Promotion of disaster prevention education

Combining the knowledge (understanding of scientific facts), the skills (equipment of disaster prevention literacy) and the minds (living as human beings), "abilities for living and surviving" will be nurtured in each student. At the same time, each student has the chance to think of "a life" and to feel the problems closer and to learn and pay attention to the community and its history. It is expected in disaster prevention education for young students to protect themselves and then to help others.

3. Substantial preparation in the school disaster prevention system

School is the center base in the community from the view of disaster prevention. In an emergency situation, school will also function as a safe shelter. High school students will be regarded as members of the community and manpower that can be used to volunteer in shelters. A school always has to organize and prepare for the safe excavation of students and organize the communication network between homes in the community in an emergency.

-Student's impressions-

"It is impossible to get rid of earthquakes but we can reduce the damage done by earthquakes." I think it is important to keep paying attention to disaster prevention.