Be Prepared - Scouts in Japan and Ecuador support earthquake response efforts
When responding to disasters, time saves lives. The best way to save time is for communities – and Scouts - to be prepared.
Over the last few days we have seen tremendous efforts from the network of Scouts and Messengers of Peace, who reacted quickly and effectively in both Japan and Ecuador. These networks of Scouts – on opposite sides of the world – responded almost simultaneously to the same emergency, with the same calm heads, relying on their skills and experience gained through their time in Scouting.
In Japan, Scouts supported the army and Japanese Red Cross in evacuating communities on the island of Kyushu after a 7.3 magnitude quake struck on the early hours of Saturday morning. And in Ecuador, Scouts supported NGOs and government agencies in cities and villages along the Pacific coast after a 7.8 magnitude quake struck on Saturday evening.
Almost exactly 12 months ago to the day, a similarly devastating earthquake struck Nepal. Immediately, the Scouts reacted with the same speed and responsiveness shown by their peers in Japan and Ecuador. They took to the streets, dug survivors from the rubble with their bare hands and administered first aid. They did what they could with the resources around them, but with more preparation they knew they could do more.
After the emergency situation subsided, the Scouts began designing a training course for disaster management in partnership with the International Red Cross/Red Crescent, they simply want to be better prepared for future emergency situations. This course is designed to develop a Scouts skill in ‘needs assessments’, shelter provision and general community support after a disaster, with the Scouts then sharing these skills in communities across the country. They are being prepared for the future.
Scouts in all communities around the world are thinking about the future by taking action in the present. This ‘Be Prepared’ mentality which is distilled in all Scouts from an earlier age is seen as a useful attitude by many, but in some countries, like Ecuador, Japan and Nepal, it can be the difference between life and death.