Useful in emergencies! Learn disaster preparedness the fun way with a disaster-prevention trivia quiz

won't return

“Okashi-mochi” is a keyword used to help people evacuate safely during disasters. The “mo” stands for “don’t go back,” meaning that during or after evacuation, you must never return to the original location, even if you’ve forgotten something or are worried about something. During disasters, the risk of building collapse and secondary hazards is extremely high, and there are many reported cases of people who returned after evacuating and were harmed as a result. Therefore, the action of “not going back” is very important for protecting your own life and the lives of those around you.

origin of the fire

When using a fire extinguisher, it’s important to aim at the base of the fire. The base is the root of the burning material, and applying the extinguishing agent there can stop the combustion from spreading. If you aim at the smoke or the flames higher up, you won’t extinguish the fire effectively and the incident may be prolonged. Also, be careful not to get too close, and work from a safe distance on the upwind side.

Open the door immediately.

One possible risk if you experience an earthquake while in the restroom is that the door may warp and trap you inside. To prevent this, try to open the door as soon as the quake starts. It may be difficult in some situations, but it’s something to keep in mind.

About 1,700 meters

By multiplying the number of seconds from the lightning flash to when you hear the thunder by 340, you can estimate the distance to the lightning. In this problem, that would be 5 seconds × about 340 meters = approximately 1,700 meters. By carefully observing the flash and the thunder, you can also feel how the storm draws nearer and then moves away. If you’re a student, you could even apply this to a summer vacation science project.

Clean the gutter

When flooding from heavy rain is expected, it’s important to clean the gutters and drains around your home. If they’re clogged with fallen leaves or trash, water won’t flow properly and may overflow, increasing the risk of flooding and underfloor damage. Regularly inspecting and cleaning gutters to ensure smooth drainage can help reduce damage. It’s also important to work with your neighbors to keep nearby gutters clean.

survival foods

Survival foods are attracting attention as emergency provisions that can be stored long-term. Their greatest feature is an exceptionally long shelf life of about 25 years. This is achieved by using a specialized freeze-drying process that removes nearly all moisture, significantly preventing food deterioration. Since food supply can be disrupted during disasters, long-lasting survival foods are stocked in many places, including households and local governments. For example, there are various options, starting with crackers, making them reassuring items to keep on hand for everyday preparedness.

rolling stock

The method of maintaining a certain amount of emergency food and daily necessities in stock, gradually consuming them in everyday life, and replenishing only what you use is called rolling stock. By adopting this method, you can prevent items from expiring and always keep your supplies fresh. Even if you suddenly need food during a disaster, having new emergency provisions on hand provides peace of mind. Also, by stocking items you’re accustomed to eating, you can reduce stress in case of an emergency.