The Communication of Disaster Information and Knowledge to Children Using Game Technique: The Disaster Awareness Game (DAG)

The specific vulnerability of children and by extension, the need to promote disaster awareness among children as an integral part of disaster risk-reduction strategies is an emergent theme in the disaster management fraternity. The challenge however, is in the design of awareness- promotion tools that are relevant to and appropriate for the specific learning needs of children. The Disaster Awareness Game (DAG) on which this paper is based has been designed to address this challenge. Preliminary testing of the Game among Caribbean school children suggests that it is appropriate for and effective in rising levels of awareness and consequent behaviour of children in disaster situations. In light of the preliminary nature of these results further testing of the DAG is imperative if confirmation of its reliability is to be obtained.