Youth preparedness website helps young people navigate a number of situations
The new Youth Preparedness website provides guidance on how to prepare for different unexpected situations and prevent accidents at home and on the go. In the past, there has been no information package on preparedness that would have been aimed at young people in particular. The site published by the Finnish National Rescue Association encourages each young person to think about their own preparedness and to take proactive action in their own environment.
The newly launched website helps young people and young adults in particular to improve their preparedness skills.
“Young people may find talk about preparedness uncomfortable. We want to tell young people in an encouraging way about how everyone can contribute to their own preparedness. It also helps mentally when you know you can do something,” says the Finnish National Rescue Association’s (SPEK) communication specialist Heidi Hannikainen.
According to a SPEK study, young people who have seen information on preparedness are more eager to search for information on it than older age groups. However, to date, there has been no information package specifically aimed at young people about preparing for the unexpected.
“I hadn’t really understood how important this stuff is, like that you can actually prepare for these risks”
A comment by a young tester of the service
The themes of the site cover accidents, disruptions, the environment, traffic, online safety, loved ones and community involvement, and pets.
“There are many aspects related to preparedness and accident prevention that even adults do not always remember. For example, people should make sure they know first aid and have emergency rations for their pets, as well,” says Hannikainen.
“And it is not only about being prepared yourself. It is about looking after others and taking care of each other, too,” she adds.
The website will be later published also in Swedish and in English.
Young people taking on learning about preparedness
SPEK’s study shows that younger age groups estimate they can cope a shorter time than older age groups without, for example, electricity, water, the internet, or a phone.
The Youth Preparedness website provides practical instructions and facts in a format suitable for young people. The site can be used independently, at a school for education, or in a hobby club, free of charge.
The feedback from young people who tested the site has been positive. They have commented how the site has prompted a desire to learn more about preparedness and accident prevention.
“It’s a working package, the site sure got me surfing. And it’s also a place to quickly find precise information!”
A comment by a young tester of the service
Many people are familiar with the 72 hours site, a website primarily aimed at adults that provides guidelines based on a preparedness recommendation from public authorities and organisations. SPEK maintains the site.
SPEK also offers schools the NouHätä! learning material for 8th graders, as well as the Palojärki teaching material for grades 1–2 in primary school. The materials are free of charge.