In disasters matters, one of the most difficult tasks is to create awareness in the preparedness that people should have for survival; it means that, to increase their resilience to disasters; whether with natural or anthropic origin. Normally, Prevention in the US, makes sense with security matters since they understand the concept as a preparedness against a threat or an act of terrorism [1]. It should be noted, on benefit of this article, that prevention shall be understood as those policies, standards, systems and procedures, which are designed to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of incidents, hazard and risk [2].
Chile, a country where regularly happens events whether with natural or anthropic origin, has developed a national resilience capability, which normally allow us to overcome them. It does not mean that is necessary efficient or effective. Currently is pending (since 2011) the approval of a project, which establishes the new National System of Civil Protection and Emergency and creates the National Civil Protection Agency [3].
Regardless of what happens in legislative matters, the fact is that the events to date, has clearly demonstrated the need to operationalize the current Civil Protection Plan [4]; because on that Plan, structure and responsibilities are defined, forms for information gathering background are stablished, but does not assign tasks and resources at different stages. That is: Who does what, who funds it and what means are involved. Besides, it does not consider the armed forces, who have had recent an extensive and outstanding participation. Although, it is necessary to remark that is not the main role, but they are those who are better prepared to develop those tasks. This last, should not be understood as a replacement of emergency responders; but as a very good complement, because they have a structure, staff, media and technology. The experiences gained from the events occurred to date, have generated an increase in the number of projects and initiatives that allow monitoring and obtain an early warning in order to reduce the effects. However, population growth and climate changes, among others, are factors that increase the magnitude and impact of the effects on the future natural and anthropic disasters. Hence, the need to generate synergy in the preparedness and prevention is real.
While no adequate legislation is stablished which allow articulate the various actors involved in the preparedness, prevention, disaster response, resources and means involved, it will be the individual preparedness which has direct impact on the effects post a catastrophic event. Such preparedness should be permanent and constitute a fundamental pillar in mitigating the effects, because it has a directly proportional relation on the relief effort of agencies responders, allowing the resource optimization. Unfortunately, to date, there is not a validating entity in this matter, with the skills for regulating, monitoring the quality, programs contents and especially to the organizations and instructors.
As indicated in the preceding paragraphs, reinforces the need to generate awareness and encourage citizen culturization in prevention [5], but especially in disaster preparedness.
Currently, there are organizations that provide training in prevention and disaster preparedness, which have slowly been gaining ground and prestige by providing progressive programs in many complex situations, to face a dangerous situation caused after a disaster, tinged with topics related to risk prevention, making them more digestible for the companies; since there is no awareness of preparedness. The result, generally keeps them captive for novelty and motivation.
Those programs are not only aimed to facilitate and contribute to validation processes for risk prevention standards in enterprises; but also constitute a particular way of motivational reinforcement of leadership and teamwork, with realistic scenarios and the opportunity to practice skills in controlled environments, which indirectly create awareness on the staff, their families and communities .
Now, organizations and companies which works in this area, usually depend on private initiatives to exchange information, experiences and knowledge; e.g. participation of fairs and seminars, where its purpose, usually falls on commercial aspects (sale of equipment and courses), but not exchange and dissemination of information and culturization. This highlights the lack of concerted and organized spaces by the authority, considering study centers and the general public. That is, issues transversely addressed.
Of the latter, observing the topics developed on these kind of seminars and fairs, related to security and safety (security and safety have the same translation in spanish: "seguridad". At least in Chili, this term has been reduced only to security, which leads to a restricted vision associated with crime prevention), it is perceived that only good things are exposed; that is, what works, but nobody talk about mistakes, failures, human error and equipment, which will actually enable gain valuable experience.
It should be noted, that the same applies in terms of social impact where vulnerability usually is treated in academics seminars and by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), but is not considered on preparedness and prevention programs. This requires the participation of all actors. Hardly a synergy will be achieved.
Retaking the training (mentioned before), it is noteworthy the fact to be progressive, offering a wide range of orientations (schools, disabled, elderly, neighborhood councils, housekeepers, etc.), being relatively inexpensive and massive, but not coordinated or supervised, so each municipality (if they do), NGOs and Technical Training Organizations (TTO), conduct this activities by its own and according to their own guidelines.
Independent of the State's obligation to respect, protect and fulfil each of the “essential rights", citizens must understand that they have the responsibility to being prepared and have a basic knowledge of how to respond after an event occurs; whether it generates an emergency [6], disaster or catastrophe, it can be the difference between life or death. This preparedness, concerns the authorities, responders agencies and especially the citizen, whose minimum responsibility is to have knowledge, elements and basic equipment to initially ensure their own safety, then that of their family, labor and finally the community.
In summary, Aspects of Prevention, Preparedness and Response citizen, have acquired mayor importance, revealing the lack of continuous solutions with appropriate response tools. This entails a fierce impact, where Community preparedness is fundamental.
Consistent with the above, it is essential to be aware of the need to train the community with knowledge, skills and a high spirit of resilience (term widely used, but hardly understood on a real context).
The main benefit of encouraging the promotion of culturization of disaster preparedness is: this life style, pervade their homes, work places or study centers, promoting solidarity on benefit of the community, providing an attractive proposal and increasingly necessary in the leaderships reinforcement and social containment, impacting the feeling of wellbeing and security of persons on a positive way, besides is politically profitable.
[2] Incident: What could happen , Danger : Why should an incident happen , Risk : How serious can it be ?, How Often ?.http://www.achs.cl/portal/ACHS-Corporativo/newsletters/pymes-achs-al dia/Paginas/identificar_peligros_y_riesgos.aspx
[6] Emergency: event caused by nature or human activity that produces a change in a system, which does not exceed or exceeds its responsiveness
Disaster: A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society that can cause widespread economic or human losses, materials, environmental losses which exceed the ability answer using their own resources.
Catastrophe: situation when means and resources at the national level are not enough to affront the event, requiring support from the international community. Fuente. Curso “Operaciones de Emergencia en el Nivel Local” ONEMI.
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