Preparation is key! Thinking about disaster prevention for families with babies

In recent years, some kind of disaster occurs somewhere in Japan every year. If you think about being affected by a disaster or evacuating with a baby, you will feel more worried and anxious than if you were just an adult.
BABY&Me's official Instagram recently hosted disaster prevention expert Erika Watanabe for a collaborative Instagram Live where she talked about her concerns regarding disaster prevention and talked about her experiences during the Great East Japan Earthquake. Let's take another look at disaster prevention based on what Mr. Watanabe taught us.

What does disaster prevention mean?

According to the Cabinet Office website's ``Disaster Prevention Information Page,'' Japan is ``a land prone to disasters such as typhoons, heavy rain, heavy snow, floods, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.''
Disaster prevention refers to the efforts of those of us who live in Japan, where various disasters are likely to occur, to prevent disasters from occurring and prepare to minimize the damage sustained.
You need to be prepared on a daily basis to protect not only yourself but also your family, including your baby.

What does safety mean?

"Safety" is the opposite of danger. First of all, what kind of condition does it refer to?
For one thing, there is less risk of life being threatened or injury. Hygienically managed with no risk of disease infectionIt may also include the state.
By knowing the dangerous and safe places in your home and area, you will be able to evacuate without panic in an emergency.

In the event of an earthquake, the sturdiness of buildings is key.
Buildings that meet the earthquake resistance standards stipulated by the Building Standards Act are safe because they have been proven to be able to withstand earthquakes of a certain strength. After May 31, 1981, the law was revised and the system was divided into "old earthquake resistance" and "new earthquake resistance." It's a good idea to check which category your home falls under.
Inside your house, there are four dangers: things that fall, things that fall over, things that roll or slide, and things that break. If there are no such things, or if measures are taken to prevent falls and glass from shattering, then it can be said to be a safe environment.
For local hazards, refer to hazard maps published by local governments. 
When it comes to disasters, there are many different types, scales, and surrounding environments, so unfortunately there is no absolute manual that tells you how to do it safely. There is no one correct answer. You need to consider various situations and find the safety that suits you.

What's important first?

The important thing is to know what kind of disasters are likely to occur in the area where you live. It is also important to be aware of disaster prevention on a daily basis.

▼Supervised by disaster prevention specialist Erika Watanabe: “Things you should always be aware of”

What is a hazard map?

A hazard map is a map that shows places that are considered dangerous in the event of a disaster, evacuation sites, etc. Dangerous locations vary depending on the type of natural disaster, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and landslides, so you need to check each map.
The colors are coded according to the degree of danger, so you can know when danger is likely to approach your area and use it as a guide when considering evacuation.
Instead of just looking at a map, it's a good idea to actually walk around your neighborhood and check the level of danger while imagining what changes are likely to occur in the event of a disaster, as well as confirming safe evacuation sites and evacuation routes.

▼“How to read hazard maps” supervised by disaster prevention specialist Erika Watanabe

It does not necessarily mean that your home will be affected by a disaster.

You never know when a disaster will occur. There is a possibility that you may be affected by a disaster somewhere other than your home. Be sure to check hazard maps and visually check dangerous and safe areas not only at home but also around your workplace and frequently visited places. We recommend that you simulate how you would return home if a disaster occurred while you were out.

How do you protect your baby?

For flood and landslide disasters, there is a relatively long period of time between the cause of the disaster, such as heavy rain, and the occurrence of the disaster, so it is easy to take measures such as evacuating with your baby, but earthquakes can occur instantly without warning.
If the shaking is too strong, you may not be able to move as much as you would like, and you may not even be able to reach your baby even if you are in the same room. Wait until the shaking stops before heading to your baby. To ensure safety during this time lag, it is important to always be careful about the placement of furniture to prevent objects from falling or falling on the baby, and to avoid placing the baby under lights or windows.

Is it true that there is a pose that can protect your baby?

In the event of an earthquake, if the baby and mom and dad are together, they can protect the baby by doing the life-saving "dangobug pose."
Mom and Dad sit up straight, open their knees, and place the baby's shoulders and limbs between Mom and Dad's thighs, covering them from above. Moms and dads should protect the back of their heads with their hands in case something falls or falls on them.

The purpose of Dangomushi pose is to protect your head. First of all, it is important to protect yourself in a safe place.

What about evacuation?

Depending on the type and severity of the disaster, determine whether you should evacuate to a shelter, etc., or stay at home. If you have a baby, evacuation centers are often inconvenient, so if you can confirm that your home is safe, it may be a good idea to evacuate to your home.
In the case of an earthquake, the seismic standards for your home will also be a deciding factor.
As mentioned in ``Things to Always Be Aware of'', it is helpful to have a place in your house, even just one room, where you can avoid the four dangers (falling objects, falling objects, moving objects, and breakable objects), whether you are temporarily evacuating or staying at home for a while.

◆Points for evacuation with a baby

Even for children who are old enough to walk, their feet are often unstable during disasters, so it is safer to carry them or carry them on their backs. It is important to use a baby carrier so that the adult can use both hands.
When evacuating, it is said that piggyback riding is a good option as it provides a wider field of view and increases mobility.

Any tips for stockpiling?

In the event of a disaster, there is a possibility that there will be a period of time when there is insufficient access to food, water, and daily necessities. If you are evacuating from home, you can cook using a cassette stove even if the gas or electricity is cut off, so you can prepare by stocking up on regular ingredients. If you are evacuating somewhere other than your home, it is convenient to have food that is portable, lightweight, and can be eaten without using a fire.

Additionally, having familiar foods can help alleviate stress at evacuation centers.
In addition to stocking up on emergency food, we also recommend stocking up on your favorite snacks that you can sample on a daily basis.

It is also important to have enough milk, baby food, and diapers for your baby. It is a good idea to keep a rolling stock on a regular basis.

▼“How to think about stockpiling” supervised by disaster prevention specialist Erika Watanabe