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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Marizen Ramirez, PhD, Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine/Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 6430 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 1500, Los Angeles, CA 90028 and Katrina Kubicek, PhDc, Division of Research on Children, Youth and Families, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 6430 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 1500, Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323-644-8452, kkubicek@chla.usc.edu.

The need to increase communities' emergency and disaster preparedness and response is critical for the safety and well-being of residents. Recent national and local disasters indicate that communities may not be fully equipped to handle emergencies in a timely and effective manner. School communities may require additional training and resources as staff with varying levels of knowledge and training must work together to ensure that students, parents and the larger community are able to respond to emergencies and disasters. Surveys with school staff from two school districts in southern California were completed to assess perceptions and knowledge of emergency preparedness issues both before and after a training program designed to assist schools in becoming compliant with the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS). Baseline (n=158) and follow-up (n=130) surveys from 53 schools were collected. Respondents rated their level of preparedness for responding to emergencies higher at follow-up with middle and high schools reporting the largest increase and elementary schools reporting a negligible increase. Qualitative data from interviews and focus groups with school staff are integrated into this analysis to determine how school stakeholders ascertain their levels of preparedness and explain what being prepared means to them. In addition, survey findings indicate that schools are not highly connected with community agencies such as health, city and law enforcement. Again, qualitative data will be examined to understand how schools are connected to the larger community and what can be done to increase the level of connectivity and ultimately the safety of the community.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess levels of preparedness in dealing with potential school-based emergencies or disasters
• Define what preparedness means to school personnel in the context of school-based emergencies
• Identify how school staff can become more prepared to respond to potential emergencies or disasters
• Describe how schools are connected to the larger community and methods to increase this feeling of connectivity

Keywords: School Health, Emergency

Awards: SHES Outstanding Student Research Abstract Award - Honorable Mention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation