Assessment of the Educational Process for Risk Management in the Canton Santo Domingo de Heredia, Costa Rica

The educational process for Risk Management (GR) in the canton Santo Domingo de Heredia was evaluated by investigating the training activities carried out by different entities. These entities are: The National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Attention (CNE), the Municipal Emergency Committee, 8 district emergency committees, Emergency Committees of public institutions and 8 elementary schools, one per district. In the studied area there are hazards and vulnerabilities that demand proper education in order to manage efficiently the probability of human and material loses. The educational process for risk management has been carried out in the chosen zone but its level or depth is unknown. The purpose of this work is to find out the state of education to prevent disaster or emergencies and improve its weak aspects. To obtain the required information, seven instruments (questionnaires) were applied to the following key actors: an official of CNE, the coordinators of Brigade or Committees of Emergency (4 different questionnaires), and finally the person who teaches about natural and technological events in each one of the selected schools. According to results, the population of Santo Domingo has not been adequately trained to properly face the dangers and reduce the vulnerability of the canton.