Haiti : Training Could Save Lives By Stanley Lucas

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2010

Low-Cost Emergency Preparedness Training Could Save Lives By Stanley Lucas

It is estimated that several thousand people may have died because they chose to run into buildings rather than seeking a clear, open space and dropping to the ground.

Haiti has no building codes so most of the buildings are not able to withstand an earthquake.

Choosing to run into buildings may have cost lives.

Unfortunately, despite Haiti's location on a fault line and a hurricane corridor, there has never been an effort to educate Haitians on proper emergency readiness.

After the disastrous hurricanes in 2008, I began talking on the radio about the need for a civic education program to teach people what to do when a hurricane hits or a natural disaster strikes.

Putting together a emergency preparedness plan and launching a civic education plan are low cost initiatives.

But this was never a priority for the Haitian Government.

Rather, President Preval was focused on amending the constitution to extend his term in office.

Growing up during the Cold War, many Americans will remember conducting safety drills in the grade school.

Periodically, the raid sirens would sound or the school bells would ring, and children would practice taking cover under their desks with hands on their heads in protection.

Those who grew up in the Midwest knew to go to the basement when the tornado sirens sounded.

These were things they learned as children, and they became ingrained.

These civic education programs cost little to implement, but had high impact.

The Haitian Government did none of this, and lives were lost.

We must still focus on recovery and getting aid to people who need medical attention, food and water.

However, as we begin to consider rebuilding, we must focus on implementing basic training and education on how to respond to and cope with natural disasters.

Some basic ideas for low-cost training initiatives could include:
· Periodic emergency drills in the schools: Teachers could organize an emergency response plan including earthquake escape drills to practice how to get out of the schools in an efficient manner.

· Monthly public service announcements on the radio: Haitians overwhelmingly listen to the radio for the news and entertainment.

Radio stations could be provided with a standardized script to read and reinforced on a regular basis.

· Public education brochures: Low cost brochures could be printed and distributed at markets, churches and other public venues.

These could be done with pictures and symbols to be effectively distributed to those who cannot read.

In the coming months, we will reach out to corporations and public donors to seek funds and expertise to prepare these materials.

In addition, we will work with Haitian organizations to distribute the materials on the ground.

It will be key to develop a consistent message and reinforcing that message regularly.

Such low cost initiatives could very well save lives.

Javil Bodelai, February 20 2010, 2:43 AM

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