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Thu, 19 Dec 2024
JIMBARAN — Widiatmika Early Childhood Education Center (PAUD Widiatmika) is committed not only to equipping children with academic knowledge but also to instilling essential values such as safety and disaster preparedness from an early age. This commitment was realized through an earthquake simulation conducted in collaboration with the Bali National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
The activity aimed to provide students with an understanding of safety measures and self-protection techniques during an earthquake, helping them build confidence and remain calm in emergency situations.
“Children need to be taught how to handle emergency situations using simple, enjoyable methods that align with their level of understanding. To achieve this, collaboration with a competent agency in disaster management, such as BASARNAS, is essential,” said Ni Made Budiadnyani, Principal of PAUD Widiatmika.
Budi explained that the earthquake simulation is part of PAUD Widiatmika’s routine programs, focusing on prioritizing students’ safety while strengthening disaster mitigation efforts within the school environment. Looking ahead, PAUD Widiatmika plans to formalize this collaboration by drafting a memorandum of understanding with BASARNAS Bali to ensure similar activities can be conducted regularly.
The simulation involved all students from Playgroup, Kindergarten A, and Kindergarten B, along with teachers and staff members of PAUD Widiatmika. The activity was conducted in the school’s multipurpose hall.
“The goal is to provide basic knowledge to children, teachers, and staff about potential earthquake risks and how to respond calmly and in an organized manner. Additionally, this activity trains participants to recognize earthquake warning signs and implement proper evacuation steps for collective safety,” Budi explained.
The BASARNAS Bali team delivered educational materials on earthquakes, warning signs, and the importance of self-protection using animated videos that were easy for children to understand. Following this, participants were taught basic safety steps such as dropping to the ground (drop), taking cover under sturdy furniture (cover), and staying in place until the shaking stops (hold on).
“After the material presentation, the activity continued with an earthquake simulation. Children were directed back to their classrooms. Teachers and the BASARNAS Bali team signaled the start of the earthquake by sounding the siren. The children were guided to immediately perform the drop, cover, and hold on steps. Once the shaking stopped, they exited calmly and orderly to the designated assembly point. The activity concluded with a song and a cheer about safety to help reinforce key messages,” Budi added.
Budi emphasized that following this simulation, PAUD Widiatmika will continue to improve its emergency preparedness with concrete steps such as developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disaster response, forming an emergency response team, installing safety signs, and incorporating disaster preparedness materials into the school’s learning activities.
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