What preparations are needed to protect children in the event of a disaster? This episode considers not only their physical safety, but also their mental well-being during stressful evacuation.
Are you ready if disaster strikes?
Find out what you need to do by watching this program...
BOSAI: Be Prepared.
Our topic this time is Children's Needs in Disasters.
The Noto Peninsula Earthquake occurred in January 2024.
Buildings collapsed, fires broke out, and there were many casualties.
In Japan in recent years,
high seismic intensity earthquakes have been occurring at an unprecedented pace.
Today, we will look at actions necessary to protect children's lives.
Natural disasters are unpredictable and are hard to navigate no matter when they strike.
But for non-Japanese families in Japan, they can be even more difficult.
What can parents do ahead of time to get themselves and their children ready?
As the father of two kids, I'm going to find out what I need to do to be prepared.
Bobby is visiting the office of Save the Children Japan.
Nice to meet you. I'm Yamada. Welcome!
Yamada Munetake is a specialist in children's needs in disasters.
Currently, in the disaster-stricken areas of the Noto Peninsula,
he continues his work focused on children,
distributing supplies for children and providing relief for children at evacuation centers.
Is it important to create such an environment at an evacuation center?
Yes, indeed. Stress can cause children to react in various ways,
such as becoming more violent in their words and actions, or, conversely, behaving like a spoilt child.
If the children can play and exercise in the same way they could before the disaster,
it'll help them recover emotionally.
Let's first consider what we should prepare at home as standard emergency items for our children.
Rather than preparing special items,
I think it's better to think of it as an extension of daily life.
For example, if you're a family with babies and small children,
it's better to prepare more diapers and wipes than usual.
And what about food for children?
For example, hardtack crackers like this are often used as emergency rations,
but they're very hard and difficult to eat, especially for small children.
It's as tough as nails!
And has a subtle flavor.
This one is the same dough, but softer.
- It's like a muffin.
- You're right.
If the flavor suddenly changes, children may find it difficult to eat them.
So it's a good idea to try them when their best-before date approaches or when you replace them with new ones.
So what items should be included in the emergency bag for evacuation?
Yamada has prepared a useful bag for children.
Uh, our bag doesn't have this.
Is it a stuffed toy?
This kind of texture makes them feel more at home.
It helps them relax.
Stuffed toys, blankets, and other items that children are familiar with using on a regular basis help care for their mental well-being.
When we visit the Noto evacuation centers, we hand out stuffed toys like this to the children.
They look very happy even if the items are not theirs.
It seems that being exposed to such things brings peace of mind to children in the unfamiliar environment.
Ah, a card games. That's good.
Is this origami paper?
Survival supplies are prioritized at evacuation centers, but playthings are difficult to find.
They should also be prepared.
If children have something they can play with by themselves,
or card games to play with their family and friends,
the communication that offers will provide some additional comfort.
There's also the chance that children may be in a different location from their parents when a disaster strikes.
They should at least carry a minimum of emergency supplies,
such as a note of their parents' contact information and a simple map to the evacuation center.
Parents and children walking together like this is another way to avoid disasters.
- It is?
- Yes.
During a disaster, unexpected places and things can turn into a danger.
You should consider this with your children on a regular basis.
Look at this street.
Where do you think possible dangers lie in a disaster?
- Here?
- Yes.
Let's see.
Maybe the window glass or electric wires?
That's right. When an earthquake occurs, utility poles can fall
and power lines may hang down, so it's important to avoid them.
Furthermore, children may get hit with dangerous items such as falling roof tiles and concrete block walls.
It's better to use wide roads than narrow streets to reduce the risk of things falling on you.
That's something to bear in mind.
When it's flooded, you can't see your feet and a lot of dangers lie beneath them.
These manholes are one example.
Oh, really?
Manhole covers may come off in some way.
If the water flowing under the manhole erupts into the street, children especially could easily be swept away.
If it's as big as this, my children could easily fall in.
Yes, even adults can.
I can see the danger of falling into it.
In the event of a disaster, we may face situations where we have to use unfamiliar items.
For example, a public phone like this.
Learning how to use one on a regular basis is a way to prepare for natural disasters.
Public phones connected by telephone lines were the only way to make calls outdoors prior to cell phones.
They're installed every kilometer in urban areas and every two kilometers elsewhere.
I don't think I've ever used a pay phone here in Japan.
My children wouldn't be familiar with them at all.
Practicing how to use one with your children might prove very useful in a disaster.
Yeah, that's right.
First, lift the receiver.
If you hear the dial tone, you can use it.
Next, insert 10 yen or 100 yen coins.
Then press the dial buttons. That's it.
It's ringing.
- Hello.
- Bobby here.
Hi, it's Yamada.
Emergency calls for police, fire, and ambulance services can be dialed free of charge.
In addition, bulletin boards like this are often set up at evacuation centers.
Tell your children that handwritten notes become a very effective means of communication
when emails and chat tools are not available.
If your children go to school, I think it's helpful to take a walk with the school as the destination.
They should know it's a designated shelter.
You're right. This sign says it's a shelter.
Yes, this is the shelter pictogram, so local people should evacuate here.
In Japan, local governments issue evacuation instructions,
and local schools often serve as evacuation centers.
When I lived in Florida, where we'd often get hurricanes, people would usually shelter at home,
stay at home and put up shutters to withstand the hurricanes.
I don't really remember people going in advance to a prepared shelter.
Children can't evacuate by themselves, right?
So, what can adults do to take special care with them?
Children are affected in many ways by any disaster and accumulate a lot of mental stress.
It's difficult for them to express their feelings of pain and fear in words,
so the best thing is for their family and other adults around them
to look after them carefully and provide them with the best sense of security that they can.