Earthquake Preparation
Tokyo has more earthquakes than any other large city in the world. Therefore we take emergency preparedness very seriously at our School.We believe that there are three essential elements to preparing the School for an emergency:
1. Good planning
2. Careful preparation
3. Effective communication
1. Good Planning
The School has an ongoing consultative relationship with a Japanese earthquake and emergency consultant. The Head Teacher and Bursar oversee health, safety and emergency issues. Additionally, both BST Showa and BST Shibuya employ Health and Safety Officers, who are qualified nurses. Over the past year this has resulted in significant improvements in our preparedness for an emergency.
We maintain close links with the local Japanese authorities and emergency services, the British Embassy and other relevant bodies in Tokyo.
2. Careful Preparation
We have ensured that the School is well resourced.
We have 'Classroom Emergency Kits' in all teaching and administrative areas that will provide for the needs of students and staff in the immediate aftermath of an emergency (food, water, head protection, warmth, first aid, sanitation and 'TLC').
We have supplemented these with 'Emergency Resource Points' that contain supplementary provisions and resources to provide for the whole School's needs for a period of up to 72 hours, if necessary.
If a group leaves either School site, a 'Go Pack' is taken to provide for first aid, earthquake preparedness and 'TLC' in case of an emergency.
Both School sites have an 'Emergency Communication Kit' , allowing us to both receive and provide information as and when needed. These pack include satellite telephones, two way radios and provision for other methods of electronic communication (mobile phone, email, website - please note our emergency page on the website).
Finally 'Search & Rescue Kits' are stored in appropriate locations on both sites to equip rescue teams with lifting and wreckage clearance gear if required.
The School routinely trains and drills its managers, staff and students.
3. Effective Communication
We have a range of means of communication that is rehearsed through the year and could be used in case of an emergency; for instance our parent communication chain, staff telephone chain, links to both the British Embassy and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and arrangements with a UK based associate who is able to receive and issue information if needed.
Summary
We believe that the measures in place ensure that the School is well planned, prepared and resourced, so that if an emergency were to arise we would be able to react effectively, based on good information, and so minimise the risk to our students and staff.
The school is constantly reviewing ways of improving its preparations for an emergency.
We give a presentation on a regular basis to the BST community on 'What BST would do in a crisis' . The following documents were displayed at the latest presentation and are available to download.
Emergency Preparation I - Timeline and Action Plan
Emergency Preparation II - Emergency Services
Emergency Preparation III - Vocabulary
Detailed information about how best to prepare your family for an emergency in Tokyo (including Emergency Detail Cards) can be downloaded here .
Useful links:
NTT Disaster Messaging system
NTT Docomo disaster message board
AU/KDDI disaster message board
Softbank disaster message board
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Emergencies Homepage (English)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Earthquake Survival Manual
Dr Lomax talk on Earthquake First Aid
