Disaster Preparedness & Response Planning

First-Aid Training as Means of Disaster Preparedness

First-aid knowledge and skills may be useful in managing and reducing injuries and morbidities that result from natural disasters and emergency crises. Yet few studies have been conducted to explore the general profile of first-aid training received in the general population and first-aid training as a potential means of disaster preparedness.

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Psychological First Aid as Pre-deployment Training for Responders

Aid workers and first responders are usually responsible for offering emotional comfort to disaster victims. However, there is a lack of emergency preparedness and training for the task of offering psychosocial care to victims in common disaster relief protocols.

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Rural Disaster Risk Literacy

There is a lack of study about disaster risk literacy and evidence-based disaster management models regarding rural China. China is one of the countries with the most frequent occurrence of disasters. Rural and poor areas in the remote inland provinces, where ethnic minorities groups usually reside, are disproportionately affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Many public health interventions could be effective strategies to enhance these communities’ resilience against the adverse impact of disasters. CCOUC is studying and evaluating the effectiveness of disaster preparedness intervention in rural communities with high illiterate rate. This project has provided preliminary evidence that health education campaigns in disaster preparedness can empower communities of high illiteracy rate in China and engage them in self-help and household-based preparedness. Policy makers might consider applying the program model for other remote, ethnic minority-based communities.

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Urban Disaster Risk Literacy

Little is known about the level of disaster risk literacy in urban Chinese communities such as Hong Kong. Disaster risk literacy refers to the ability to identify, understand, interpret, and communicate disaster risk-related information. Disaster preparedness, on the other hand, focuses on the ability and readiness to respond to emergency situations arising from natural disasters. Studies from many countries have demonstrated the potential impact of physical, mental, and psychological first-aid training on increasing disaster preparedness. Therefore, recognising potential disaster risks and actual preparation for natural disasters may reduce the physical, psychological, and societal impact brought on by these unexpected natural phenomena. Under this project, CCOUC is assessing the disaster risk literacy among the Hong Kong population, the perceived need for first-aid training and the prevalence of first-aid training among the Hong Kong population.

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