Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Disaster Affairs Department continues its education activities without slowing down in order to raise students as more conscious and prepared individuals against disasters. In this context, in an innovative event organized at Mercan 100th Year Climate and Environment Science Center, children Earthquake moment experience with virtual reality (VR) technology They learn correct behaviors in times of disaster by experiencing them.
They Learn About Earthquakes by Experiencing Them with VR Glasses
The earthquake awareness event offers students an unforgettable and educational experience. Participants, He experiences the earthquake moment directly by wearing virtual reality glasses., what needs to be done in the meantime “Drop-Cover-Hold” They learn the movement in practice. In the trainings given with simulation, earthquake bag contents, in case of disaster communication methods ve reaching safe areas Basic information such as these are conveyed in detail. These trainings, specially designed for students in middle school and above, will continue two days a week at the Mercan 100th Year Climate and Environment Science Center with expert instructors.
“We Aim to Raise Awareness of Our Children About Disasters”
Zeynep Sazan, who works as an Internal Trainer at the Metropolitan Municipality Disaster Affairs Department, emphasized the importance of the project and stated that they provided students with basic practical information that should be done during an earthquake using virtual reality glasses. Sazan said, “As the Disaster Affairs Department, we aim to ensure that children are prepared for such situations and to raise awareness about disasters. Within the scope of the protocol made with the Provincial Directorate of National Education; we will continue to provide practical disaster awareness training in schools and at the Mercan Science Center using virtual reality glasses.”
Sazan stated that after the February 6 earthquakes, we realized that we as a society needed to be more sensitive to disasters, and emphasized the social importance of the project once again with the words, “Our aim is to ensure that children have basic information about what to pay attention to during an earthquake, which is one of the disasters.”
Realistic Experience Comments from Students
The comments of the students who tried the virtual reality glasses revealed how effective the training was. Ayza Karaagac, said that they really felt the moment of the earthquake and said: “First, we put on our virtual reality glasses. We prepared our earthquake bag with the virtual reality glasses. Then we experienced the earthquake. We tried to find a signal on our phone, we tried to blow the whistle. When the signal finally came, we sent a message and they saved us. I experienced an earthquake for the first time in my life. I was very excited. The aim was to teach us what to do during an earthquake, and it happened.”
Another student Mehmet Ali Arslan He also stated that the virtual reality experience was very realistic and that he was very excited. Arslan said, “They teach us what to do during an earthquake. There needs to be an earthquake bag. Without panicking, we ducked and covered next to a piece of furniture and waited for the tremor to pass. After the tremor passed, we opened the bag and looked at what was inside. We checked if there was a signal on our phone, but there was no signal. We waited for a signal and blew our whistles so that they could hear us. After the signal came, they saved us. I experienced all of this in the virtual reality glasses.”
This innovative educational approach helps children not only gain theoretical knowledge about disasters but also internalize correct behaviors through practical and realistic experience. This initiative by Mersin Metropolitan Municipality is an important example of instilling disaster awareness at an early age.
