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Disaster Risk Assessment Among Iranian Exceptional Schools

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2021

Seyedeh Samaneh Miresmaeeli
Affiliation:
School of Health Management & Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Nafiseh Esmaeili
Affiliation:
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sepideh Sadeghi Ashlaghi
Affiliation:
Ziaeeyan Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Abbasi Dolatabadi*
Affiliation:
Department of Medical-surgical Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*
Corresponding author: Zahra Abbasi Dolatabadi, Email: Zahra_abasi2000@yahoo.com

Abstract

Background:

Exceptional children, like other children, have the right to be educated in a safe environment. Disasters are considered as serious issues regarding safety and security of educational environments. Following disasters, vulnerable groups, especially children with handicaps and disabilities are more likely to be seriously injured. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the safety and disaster risk assessment of exceptional schools in Tehran, Iran.

Method:

The cross-sectional study was conducted in exceptional schools in Tehran, 2018. First, 55 exceptional schools in all grades were selected based on census sampling method and evaluated by using a checklist designed by Tehran Disaster Mitigation and Management Organization (TDMMO) and Ministry of Education in 2015. The data were analyzed using Excel software and statistical descriptive tests.

Result:

Based on the results, school facilities are worn and have unsafe elevators (least safety: 7.69%), yards (least safety: 9.52%), laboratories (least safety: 16.67%), libraries (least safety: 24.24%), fire extinguishing systems (least safety: 28.99%), and storage rooms and kitchens (least safety: 33.33%) which require immediate considerations. In total, the safety of exceptional schools in this study was 70.13%, which suggests medium-risk level.

Conclusion:

The educational settings must be reconsidered, along with identifying the risk and safety at school. In addition, a standard should be established for evaluating safety, especially in exceptional schools.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
© 2021 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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