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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Megumi Kano, MPH, Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health, 76-078 CHS, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, 310-794-2706, megkano@ucla.edu and Linda B. Bourque, PhD, Dept. of Community Health Sciences, UCLA School of Public Health, PO Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

Recent events of major natural disasters, school violence, and terrorist activity illustrate the need for schools to be prepared to manage emergency events. This study aimed to assess the preparedness of California's public schools and to identify the correlates of preparedness. A survey questionnaire was mailed to a designated person at 200 public school districts and to the principals of 470 public school sites. Non-respondents were followed up by telephone and a second mailing of the questionnaire. The survey data were collected in the fall of 2005. The response rates were 49% (98/200) for the school districts and 32% (151/470) for the school sites. The district and school data were analyzed separately. On average, the schools reported experiencing eight natural or man-made emergency events during the prior three years. Only about half of the district respondents and 25% of the school respondents said their district or school had an emergency preparedness coordinator. About 20% of the district respondents and 30% of the school respondents reported they had no funding for emergency preparedness. Nearly all districts and schools reported having a disaster plan, but a number of deficiencies in their preparedness were identified. Urbanicity and size were associated with levels of preparedness. The lack of resources in terms of personnel time and funding are likely to be hindering the process of improving and strengthening preparedness in California's public schools. Areas that particularly need improvement include staff training and coordination with local agencies and officials.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Articulate why school emergency preparedness is an important public health issue.
• List at least four areas of emergency preparedness that schools must work on.
• Identify areas of strengths and weaknesses in the current state of preparedness of California's public schools.
• List the characteristics that are associated with higher/lower levels of preparedness.

Keywords: Disasters, School Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No