Red Cross: Holidaymakers not well prepared for emergencies
A large part of the Dutch do not know what to do when they are confronted with natural disasters during a holiday. This is according to research by the Red Cross.
Half of the Dutch say that the risk of natural disasters has no influence on their choice of a holiday destination. Now that many people are once again looking into the holiday destination for this year, the Red Cross is asking for proper preparation. A natural disaster can also occur during a holiday.
Usually people enjoy a carefree holiday, but things can also go differently. In that case it is good to know how best to act. In recent years, there have been several disasters in tourist areas. For example, tourists were still allowed in last week Thailand evacuated due to a tropical storm. In recent years there have been earthquakes in tourist areas such as Italy, Greece, and on Indonesian islands such as Bali and Lombok. In the Caribbean, tourists were hit by Hurricane Irma and wildfires ravaged several destinations, including Greece and California. Popular France also has to deal with natural disasters. There were quite a few last year floods.
Natural disasters
Almost 60 percent of the Dutch indicate that they do not know what to do if they are confronted with an earthquake during a holiday. At least 56 percent have no idea what to do in the event of a flood and 63 percent would have no idea what to do when faced with a tropical storm, hurricane or typhoon. Almost 80 percent do not know what to do when there is a landslide and almost half of the Dutch have no idea how to act in the event of a forest fire in the area.
Inside and outside Europe
Only 19 percent take an earthquake into account when they are on holiday in Europe. Holidaymakers who travel outside Europe are more likely to take earthquakes into account, about 41 percent think so. Regarding forest fires, 29 percent of respondents consider forest fires during their holiday in Europe. Outside Europe this is 39 percent. The Dutch say they take the risk of infectious diseases into account when traveling outside Europe (78%).
Nearly 60 percent also indicate that they have no idea which authority they should contact if they end up in an emergency situation due to a natural disaster while on holiday. The Red Cross believes it is important that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Good preparation can save a lot of trouble. Tips on how to act in specific emergency situations can be found on www.rodekruis.nl.
The Red Cross is an emergency aid organization that works worldwide for victims of natural disasters. At the same time, the aid organization wants people to be well prepared for emergencies, both at home and abroad, so that people can manage themselves in such situations.
In most cases, a storm is announced well before it takes place, so you can usually take any necessary measures.
With a seaquake, most people still know the horror of a Tsunami, which has also raged in Thailand.
Fleeing into the country, or at least looking for a higher place, are actually the only pieces of advice here.
It looks completely different, if the earthquake like this one in 2014 in Chiang Rai (Mea Lao) happened suddenly, without any warning.
I was sitting in front of my computer when suddenly at about 18.00 pm the whole house started shaking, and I had to find a way out of our house in seconds between the falling glass and bare feet.
Because of the many aftershocks, you automatically get the idea yourself, that it is better to spend the night outdoors, and that it is best to avoid trees or any electricity pylons.
The smartest thing is, if such an earthquake takes place in the night hours when everyone is in deep sleep.
I doubt whether even the red cross can advise good measures, which in other cases usually come automatically with common sense.
For Belgians.
I think it's not a bad idea to register here too.
This way, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs knows whether there are any Belgians in a disaster area and can inform and/or support you in emergency situations.
I keep doing it.
https://travellersonline.diplomatie.be/
What an investigation, from the Red Cross! That must have cost years and a lot of money.
As if we Dutch people in the Netherlands receive more information than 'close windows and doors and listen to the radio on channel xyz…' as if someone still knows how to find radio on the service. No, we don't know anything!
But I also have the impression that people can no longer think. Panic all around when the earth shakes while you know, or can know, that an earthquake in Thailand has never been much heavier than the one at Roermond or the one at Liège. I would crawl under the table…. In a storm you crawl into a concrete building and stay away from the windows. At water you go up. You pack your bags and wait. And call the embassy if not all masts have fallen.
That money could have been better spent, Red Cross!
Preparing for an emergency??
Seems like an impossible task and also ruins the anticipation