Elementary School Students' Coping Ability in Emergency Situations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data to improve coping abilities of elementary school students in emergency situations. Method: The data were collected from 1633 3-6th grade elementary school students using a self-report questionnaire. Results: 1) The mean score for the coping ability of the students was low at .38 (±.36). 2) The mean scores for the 8 categories were, [Care for common symptoms], .54 (±.48), [Call for help & check], .47 (±.43), [Care for injury by heat•cold & foreign body], .39 (±.45), [Care for tissue damage], .36 (±.44), [Offering help], .36 (±.42), [Rescue & escape], .31 (±.51), [Evacuation], .28 (±.49), and [Appropriate response for the situation], .27 (±.43). The mean scores for 2 areas were, 'Acting tips', .35 (±.36) and 'First aid', .42 (±.40). There were significant differences in coping ability according to students' gender (t=4.964, p<.001), and family type (t=-2.484, p=.013). 4) Among the categories, there were significant correlations between all 8 categories and significant correlation between 'Acting tips' and 'First aid' (r=.808, p<.001), 'Acting tips' and 'Coping ability' (r=.956, p<.001), and 'First aid' and 'Coping ability' (r=.946, p<.001). Conclusion: The findings indicate a need for programs to improve the coping ability of elementary school students in emergency situations.

The Effect of Smartphone-Delivered Emergency Preparedness Education on Coping Knowledge Among Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Elementary Schoolchildren in South Korea

“…Coping knowledge means the ability to solve problems faced with various emergency situations that elementary school students can experience in their environment (S. J. Kim et al, 2010Kim et al, , 2014. The instrument used to measure coping knowledge related to emergency situations was developed by the authors based on a previous study (S. J.…”

“…For elementary school students, an educational program for emergencies may enhance their coping knowledge in a positive manner (S. J. Kim, Lee, Kang, & Kim, 2010). Therefore, systemic emergency preparedness education enables children to have and contributes to the improvement in knowledge to cope with emergency situations (S. J.…”