ollowing are some of the most commonly asked questions and answers about NFPA's Risk Watch: Natural Disasters program.
What is Risk Watch: Natural Disasters?
Risk Watch: Natural Disasters is a school-based program that helps children in preschool through grade eight prepare for disasters. Learning how to deal with disasters is a serious topic but it doesn't have to be frightening. The program is designed to help children and families take actions toward general preparedness and learn responses to disasters by teaching them the skills and knowledge they need to make positive choices for their personal safety and well-being.
The curriculum is divided into five teaching modules (pre-k/kindergarten,
grades 1-2, grades 3-4, grades 5-6, and grades 7-8), each of which addresses
the following topics:
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Why focus on natural disasters?
Every day, millions of people wake up, go to work or school, and live their everyday lives. But every so often the unexpected happens: an earthquake, a fire, a chemical spill, an act of terrorism, or some other disaster. Preparation can help reduce the fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany a disaster. Communities, families, and children can find out who can help them, what to do, and where to seek shelter if necessary. People can also help reduce the impact of natural disasters on their property and sometimes avoid danger all together. Everyone should know how to respond to a disaster.
Who developed Risk Watch: Natural Disasters?
The program was developed by NFPA, with generous funding from the Home Safety Council and additional support from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Individuals from numerous agencies were pulled together to form a distinguished panel of national experts to provide technical resource material and review of the program.
How does Risk Watch: Natural Disasters fit in with Risk Watch: Unintentional Injuries?
Risk Watch: Natural Disasters builds on the lessons in Risk Watch: Unintentional Injuries. Together these programs offer schools the first comprehensive curriculum dealing with disaster preparedness and personal safety. For communities that have already implemented the original Risk Watch program, the natural disaster curriculum follows the same format making it easy to incorporate it into your existing Risk Watch implementation strategy.
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