A Comparative Study on School Children’s Risk Perception and Disaster Preparedness in Turkey and Japan

Abstract eng:
This study attempts to examine school children’s disaster risk perception and level of disaster preparedness in relation to school disaster education programs. To discuss the effect of disaster education, the study compares the situation in two countries, namely Turkey and Japan. Two pilot sites were selected for the study: Istanbul City in Turkey and Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. In order to understand school children’s disaster risk perception and level of preparedness a questionnaire-based survey was conducted in both cities in 2015, asking about disaster education programs provided in school, disaster preparedness adjustment measures taken at home, how they evacuate when an earthquake occurs etc. 375 students from Istanbul and 558 students from Toyohashi responded to the questionnaire. The result clarified that Turkish and Japanese students take different actions at a time of disaster. During an earthquake, Turkish students drop down where they are and cover their heads, rather Japanese students climb under the table/desks. Turkish students are more aware of non-structural earthquake mitigations at home, while Japanese students were less prepared to take actions related to building/furniture preparedness. The differences stem from the education programs each underwent. These results indicate that actions deemed appropriate in one place are not taken in other place, and vice versa, thus, careful attention should be focused on providing disaster education.

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