Dear Tashkent DRR Team,
I have looked through your scripts and think that reaching people via radio commercials is a very good idea. It is VERY important to make sure that the advice is consistent with lessons learned elsewhere. It is doubly important that any radio commercial makes it very CLEAR what to do as there is no visual reference. I will attempt to change all four scripts to meet this criteria, but have changed the first one to what you see below! Explaining what an earthquake is quiet abstract and I am unsure of the level of education about this with the general public in Kazakhstan. However, I have tried to address this in the script below. I hope this helps and I am sure that there are others on the mailing list that will be willing to help you.
Kind Regards,
Justin Sharpe
Clip 1
There are three characters in this jingle: mother, father and 10-12 years old child.
Kid: Daddy, what is an earthquake?
Father: Earthquake’s are the shaking, rolling or sudden shock of the earth’s surface. Earthquakes happen along "fault lines" in the earth’s crust.
Mommy: Most of the time, you will notice an earthquake by the gentle shaking of the ground. You may notice hanging plants swaying or objects wobbling on shelves. Sometimes you may hear a low rumbling noise or feel a sharp jolt.
Kid: And how to act during an earthquake?
Father: The most important is not to panic!
Mother: The second most important thing to remember during an earthquake is to DROP, COVER and HOLD ON. So remember to DROP to the floor on your knees and get under something such as a table for COVER and HOLD ON during the shaking.
Father: If there is no table or bed to get under drop down onto your knees against a wall away from things that might fall on you. Stay away from windows bookcases or heavy furniture. Try to cover your head and neck.
Mother: And of course, you have to stay at your place until the earthquake stops.
Father: And when it is over, move carefully and look out for fallen things.
The Second Script & e-mail:
Dear Tashkent Team,
I have written out clip two below. It is important to REINFORCE a consistent message about certain key points, so you will see information about drop cover and hold on, again in this clip. I have expanded (slightly) the rest of the clip too, but all of this will be below 30 seconds still! I hope this helps,
Kind Regards,
Justin
Clip 2:
Kid: Mommy, why are there sometimes victims when earthquakes happen?
Mother: Well, first of all, because people began to panic, which is strongly not recommended.
Father: And second of all, in order not to be a victim of an earthquake it is important to be prepared for it.
Kid: But how can we be prepared?
Mother: Do you remember what we have been practicing at home?
Kid: You mean when we DROP, COVER and HOLD ON. I get under a table, drop to my knees and hold on to the table leg!
Father: Well REMEMBERED!
Mother: But we should be prepared in other ways too.
Kid: How so?
Mother: The most dangerous places in the house should be identified, for example near the windows, big and heavy things which can fall down. You need to stay away from these if an earthquake occurs!
Father: We should also know how to switch off the gas and electricity in order to avoid a fire starting.
Mother: There must be a first aid kit in the house which is easy to access and won’t get lost in an earthquake.
Father: Moreover, it is important to have copies of necessary documents.
Mother: Each member of the family should know exactly appointed place for meeting after the earthquake, as well as how to get there safely!
