Information and communication

Being informed in advance and during an event may an occasion lessen the threat and impact of an emergency or disaster and is likely to increase individual and community resilience.

A key factor of resilience is being informed:

Enabling citizens to access relevant information about potential risks and hazards and the consequences of emergencies and disasters and, also, to know how they can equip themselves to be prepared and to cope better
Educating and training responders to understand that meeting needs includes communicating with citizens and each other in a timely, appropriate, honest, open and transparent way
Enabling citizens to make informed choices and to participate in recovery activities to mitigate the effects of emergencies and disasters
Encouraging individuals and citizens to listen to and react to messages is a long-term process, requiring a clear communication strategy and building a favourable environment in order to support messages of preparedness.

Risk communication

Public communication can inform and influence human behaviours and encourage and promote interest in individual and community resilience. It can reduce vulnerability by enhancing the possibility that populations at risk will take precautions by encouraging appropriate protective actions, reassuring those not at risk by reducing rumours and fears, facilitating relief efforts and maintaining public trust and confidence in responsible agencies.

Often, individuals and communities perceive risk differently to civil protection organisations. It is therefore very important that public communication focuses on influencing risk perception by creating familiarity around terminology and procedures.

The most important factor in risk communication is trust. Communicators of risk benefit from building trust by concentrating on local relationships, communicating with the public in advance of any crisis and in a regular manner. This will prevent the public from feeling misled and uninformed and increases the prospect of them feeling reassured.

The public generally would wish for information as follows:

The current status of the disaster
Where they can obtain information
Preventive actions and protective behaviours
Risk of exposure
Signs and symptoms.

Principles of risk communication include:

Establish long-term trust and credibility
Be truthful, active, open, transparent, timely
Consider channels, tone and content
Acknowledge risks, frame the issue with context, examples and analogies
Treat people’s fears seriously, listen well, answer the questions they want to ask
Demonstrate action and progress
Give people information that will help them to help themselves.

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Tips for managing yourself and your emotions better leaflet Source(s): Red Cross/EU Office Tips for managing yourself and your emotions better leaflet offers basic level practical advice to help individuals with their emotions during an emergency. Project: Informed. Prepared. Together Audience: Individuals, Voluntary organisations, Teachers/Youth leaders/Opinion formers, Volunteers Type: Campaign/Promotional material, Educational material Language: English View resource details Downloads S. Tips for managing yourself and your emotions better leaflet Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Informed. Prepared. Together. Table top 2010/2011 calendar Source(s): Red Cross / EU Office Table top, CD case size 2010 calendar provides simple information on risks and hazards, the Top 10 Tips on how to better prepare for an emergency, what to do in an emergency, preparing an emergency kit bag and preparing a personal emergency plan. It can be used at home, schools or in a work environment. A 2011 calendar is also available. part of the Informed. Prepared. Together family of products which can be found on www.informedprepared.eu Project: Informed. Prepared. Together Audience: Community groups, Emergency services, Individuals, Local/Municipal authority, Non governmental organisations, Private/Industry sector, Red Cross, Search and rescue organisations, Voluntary organisations, Teachers/Youth leaders/Opinion formers, Volunteers, Young persons 11-18, Government Type: Artwork templates, Campaign/Promotional material, Educational material, Products and kits, Public information Language: English View resource details External Links Informed. Prepared. Together. Table top 2010/2011 calendar Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Informed. Prepared. Together. Get together card game Source(s): Red Cross/EU Office Get together card game offers a positive, practical, fun and informative way of sharing sets of Top 10 Tips for all ages (suitable for children 7+ years) on preparing for emergencies, what to do in emergencies and preparing an emergency kit bag. Based on matching pairs of cards. This game is part of the Informed. Prepared. Together family of products which can be found on www.informedprepared.eu Project: Informed Prepared Together Audience: Children 5-11, Community groups, Emergency services, Individuals, Local/Municipal authority, Non governmental organisations, Red Cross, Voluntary organisations, Teachers/Youth leaders/Opinion formers, Volunteers, Young persons 11-18, Trainers/Instructors Type: Campaign/Promotional material, Educational material Language: English View resource details External Links Informed. Prepared. Together. Get together card game Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Informed. Prepared. Together. Community-based exercise guide Source(s): Red Cross/EU Office A Community-based emergency exercise guide which will assist those people involved in supporting communities to improve their ability to plan for emergencies. The guide provides practical advice on organising an effective, participatory and interactive exercise at the local level. The exercize guide is part of the Informed. Prepared. Together. family of products which can be found on www.informedprepared.eu Project: Informed Prepared Together Audience: Community groups, Emergency services, Local/Municipal authority, Non governmental organisations, Private/Industry sector, Red Cross, Search and rescue organisations, Voluntary organisations, Teachers/Youth leaders/Opinion formers, Volunteers, Government , Intergovernmental organisations, Trainers/Instructors Type: Artwork templates, Campaign/Promotional material, Educational material, Exercises, Guidelines and guidance, Manual, Training materials Language: English View resource details External Links Informed. Prepared. Together. Community-based exercise guide Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Informed. Prepared. Together. Bounce-back-ability poster and puzzle Source(s): Red Cross/EU Office Bounce-back-ability poster and puzzle provides a fun and visual way to give children from 6+ years basic emergency preparation tips like using a phone in an emergency. The poster can be displayed or cut up to form a jigsaw puzzle. Project: Informed Prepared Together Audience: Children 5-11, Teachers/Youth leaders/Opinion formers Type: Campaign/Promotional material, Educational material Language: English View resource details External Links Informed. Prepared. Together: Bounce-back-ability poster and puzzle Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Informed. Prepared. Together. : Human aspects in civil protection Source(s): Red Cross/EU Office A set of two guidance documents for governments and organisations. Human aspects in civil protection – understanding the principles, a strategic level leaflet which invites governments and organisations to put individuals and communities at the centre of civil protection planning, preparedness, response and recovery activities and to consider principles for building resilience at a national level. Human aspects in civil protection – putting the principles into practice, a booklet to assist practioners to implement the principles within existing local arrangements. The guidance documents are part of the Informed. Prepared. Together family of products which can be found on www.informedprepared.eu Project: Informed Prepared Together Audience: Community groups, Emergency services, Local/Municipal authority, Red Cross, Search and rescue organisations, Voluntary organisations, Government , Intergovernmental organisations, Trainers/Instructors Type: Campaign/Promotional material, Guidelines and guidance, Manual, Training materials Language: English View resource details External Links Informed. Prepared. Together. : Human aspects in civil protection Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Informed. Prepared. Together Top 10 Tips leaflets, cards and stickers Source(s): Red Cross/EU Office A collection of Top 10 Tips leaflets, cards and stickers in various forms and sizes, offering citizens (adults, teenagers and children) and communities generic tips and advice on how to prepare for an emergency, what to do in an emergency, preparing an emergency kit bag and making a personal contact plan. These can be distributed following awareness-raising activities, as part of lessons, courses or exercises. Project: Informed. Prepared. Together Audience: Community groups, Emergency services, Individuals, Non governmental organisations, Private/Industry sector, Red Cross, Teachers/Youth leaders/Opinion formers, Volunteers, Young persons 11-18, Intergovernmental organisations, Trainers/Instructors Type: Campaign/Promotional material, Educational material, Products and kits Language: English View resource details External Links Informed. Prepared. Together: Top 10 Tips leaflets, cards and sti... Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Your best defense is you Source(s): International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) This campaign promotes five simple steps which anyone can take to protect themseleves against H1N1 pandemic. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, keep your distance, separate your sick, dispose of your waste are the messages that are promoted through posters, videos, radio spots and online tools worldwide. The material and more information can be accessed via the campaign website. Year: 2009 Audience: Children 5-11, Community groups, Emergency services, Individuals, Local/Municipal authority, Non governmental organisations, Private/Industry sector, Red Cross, Voluntary organisations, Teachers/Youth leaders/Opinion formers, Volunteers, Young persons 11-18, Government , Intergovernmental organisations, Trainers/Instructors Type: Artwork templates, Campaign/Promotional material, Educational material, Products and kits, Public information Language: English View resource details External Links www.bestdefence.org Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
The European Emergency Number 112: Analytical report Source(s): 112 Foundation This Flash Eurobarometer survey on 112, requested by the Directorate-General for Information Society and Media is part of a trend survey. The objectives of the survey were: to measure EU citizens’ knowledge of the European emergency number 112, to study their perceptions about the importance, promotion and usage of that number, and to compare the experience of calling 112 with that of calling other national emergency numbers. Audience: Non governmental organisations, Government Type: Publication, Report Language: English View resource details Downloads The European Emergency Number 112: Analytical report Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
The 112 Newsletter Source(s): European Emergency Number Association EENA issues periodically "The 112 Newsletter". It is disseminated free of charge by e-mail and can be downloaded from this site. The Newsletter is available only in English but volunteers are welcome to translate it (in full or a summary) in any other European language. Audience: Emergency services, Individuals, Non governmental organisations, Red Cross, Voluntary organisations, Volunteers, Government , Intergovernmental organisations Type: Public information , Publication Language: English View resource details External Links The 112 Newsletter Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments