Video summary of the project:
Background:
Climate change is occurring in Europe, with the European land temperature over the past decade on average 1,3°C higher than in the pre-industrial era, making it the warmest decade on record (Source: Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012 - EEA Report No 12/2012).
The consequences of climate change can already be noted through the increase in the frequency of natural disasters. In Europe, according to the Emergency Database of Disasters (EMDAT), the number of natural disasters reported increased from 43 in 1974-1978 to 288 in 1999-2003. All the agencies working on monitoring climate change agree that, in the future, such consequences will intensify with the weather and temperatures being more extreme. Impacts will include natural disasters such as river floods, droughts, forest fires, warm periods, including heat waves, are expected to be more intense, more frequent and longer-lasting. (Source: EEA 2007: Europe’s Environment, the fourth assessment).
The impact of natural disasters on the European population ranges from material damage, economic losses, casualties (death and injuries) and psychological distress. However, such impacts can be mitigated through the education of individuals, communities, and disaster responders on three levels:
- The prevention of natural disasters, i.e.. any action to reduce or avoid the consequences of a disaster.
- The preparedness for natural disasters, i.e.. to be in a state of readiness in case of a disaster to know how to react.
- The response to natural disasters, i.e.. knowing how to remain safe and address the immediate effects and adverse consequences of a disaster.
The project:
In this context, the project “e-Learning for the Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural Disasters” was created to address the need for education and training on natural disasters. It was a joint initiative of Frederiksborg Brand & Redding (Denmark) in partnership with:
Colegiul National "Vasile Goldis“ Arad, a primary and secondary school from Romania.
Lohusuu Kool, a primary and lower secondary school from Estonia.
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, a fire and rescue service from the United Kingdom.
Vilniaus Apskrities Priesgaisrine Gelbejimo Valdyba, a fire and rescue board from Lithuania.
Ayuntamiento de Alcalá de Guadaíra, a city council from Spain.
During two years (September 2014 to August 2016) the six organisations worked on the development of four e-learning modules: one for primary school children, one for secondary school students, one for adults and one for fire and rescue services.
Each e-learning module was tailored to the specific needs of its target group and covered the prevention, preparedness and response to four types of natural disasters: floods, storms, heat waves and wildfires.
The e-learning modules are available in six European languages (Danish, English, Estonian, Lithuanian, Romanian and Spanish) on the e-PPR e-learning platform which can be accessed for free at http://www.e-ppr.eu/p/e-learning-platform.html.
This cross-sectoral and cross-border partnership was co-funded by the European Commission within the framework of the Erasmus + Programme.
Project brochure:
