Parents might soon be turning to their kids to help keep the family safe during an earthquake or other disaster.
Grade 6 students across British Columbia will soon become certified Masters of Disaster through a new learning tool launched by the provincial government last week at Queen Mary elementary by North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Naomi Yamamoto, who is also minister of state for emergency preparedness.
Students across B.C. will learn how to prepare for the worst should disaster strike, as well as the skills to create more connected households that work together before, during and after an emergency. The three-part Master of Disaster module will be taught using worksheets, learning plans, a multimedia library and a role-playing game featuring a colourful cast of characters.
“This Master of Disaster program is a fun and interactive way to develop a foundation to guide and help protect our students’ families and communities for a lifetime,” stated Yamamoto in a press release. “By teaching children about emergency preparedness when they are young, students can help ingrain these lessons in our culture and better protect B.C. families for generations to come.”
North Vancouver Board of Education vice-chairwoman Franci Stratton also endorsed the Master of Disaster program.
“Our board is committed to ensuring we work towards providing families with a sense of security that each child who enters one of our schools is safe,” stated Stratton.
North Shore students got a taste of a natural disaster this past Thursday at 10:20 a.m., during the Great British Columbia ShakeOut. The simultaneous “Drop, Cover and Hold On” drill is undertaken annually by people across the province and millions around the world. A record 800,000 people across the province took part in this year’s drill, according to a media advisory.
Also on Thursday, Yamamoto announced the launch of a student contest aimed at promoting the annual earthquake drill.
Primary and intermediate students (kindergarten through Grade 7) are invited to create a poster that illustrates how Drop, Cover and Hold on can save lives. High school students are invited to create a video that conveys the message.
Winners in elementary school will receive iPads. The top high school entry will receive a $1,000 bursary. The contest closes Feb. 1 with winners announced on Feb. 15. Contest details and entry forms are at shakeoutbc.ca.
