For Seniors: Be Prepared for Emergencies — A Disaster Preparedness Quiz Useful in Times of Crisis

flip the breaker

When evacuating during an earthquake, turning off the circuit breaker is to prevent electricity from flowing. Damaged electrical appliances can cause fires if power is restored, so it’s important to switch off the breaker.

living room

Keep your emergency go-bag in a place where you can grab it quickly in an emergency. In addition to the living room, the bedroom or the entryway are also recommended. Since you never know what the situation will be like, store it somewhere as easy to find as possible.

two 10-yen coins

Scissors are essential for opening snack and food bags during disasters. But if you don’t have scissors, you can easily open a bag by sliding two 10-yen coins against each other. They’re also useful for using public phones, so it’s a good idea to keep them in your pocket.

transparent plastic bag

In a fire, inhaling smoke can be life-threatening. In such situations, putting a transparent plastic bag over your head allows you to keep your eyes open while evacuating, which is reassuring. Try to evacuate in a way that avoids smoke as much as possible.

Bottled water

If you place a water-filled plastic bottle on top of a flashlight, the light reflects and can illuminate the surroundings. It’s very useful when there’s no electricity, so it’s a handy bit of knowledge to know.

September 1

Disaster Prevention Day is on September 1 every year. Based on the lessons learned from the Great Kanto Earthquake that occurred on the same day in 1923, this day has been designated for reflecting on disaster preparedness. In addition, the week from August 30 to September 5 is designated as Disaster Prevention Week, during which disaster drills are conducted across the country.

wet wipes

Water is extremely precious during a water outage. Therefore, use wet wipes to clean your hands during such times. Keeping them in your bag at all times will be helpful when the need arises.