Effectiveness of environmental-based educative program for disaster preparedness and burn management.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Education
• Disaster Management

Background:

• Effective emergency and disaster preparedness is crucial, especially in regions like the Suez Canal and Sinai.
• Environmental education programs are vital for successful emergency handling and disaster prevention.
• Tailoring educational content to audience social and educational levels enhances program efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate environmentally based burn and fire preventive education programs.
• To assess the impact of tailored educational interventions on knowledge and attitudes regarding disaster preparedness.
• To determine the effectiveness of different educational tools and audience segmentation.

Main Methods:

• Educational programs were designed based on environmental factors, local resources, and audience education levels.
• Presentations, brochures, and stickers were used as primary educational tools.
• Audience groups included health professionals, students, high-risk individuals, and the general public.
• Pre- and post-tests were administered to evaluate knowledge acquisition and attitude changes.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in knowledge and attitudes towards emergency preparedness and burn prevention were observed across all groups.
• Student groups demonstrated the highest level of knowledge acquisition, while health professionals showed the least.
• Environmental-based education programs proved effective in mobilizing communities and fostering rapid reform.

Conclusions:

• Comprehensive, simple, and environmentally based educational programs are highly effective for disaster preparedness and community mobilization.
• Educational strategies should incorporate direct contact, printed materials, and audiovisual aids for sustained impact.
• Continuous education and adaptation to local contexts are key to successful disaster risk reduction.