Preparing to Play With Fire: Exploring Bushfire Preparedness and Risk Communication Among University Students in Australia

IF 1.5 4区医学 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Health Promotion Journal of Australia Pub Date : 2025-07-28 DOI:10.1002/hpja.70064

Claudia Agius, Masaki Shibata

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

With extreme weather events expected to increase due to climate change, it is essential to understand bushfire preparedness among young adults in Australia, who often risk their safety by driving through bushfire-risk areas when travelling in summer. The current study investigates the knowledge of bushfire risk management and preparedness among university students in Australia.

Methods

One hundred and forty-eight university students participated in an online survey with closed questions. The data was analysed in SPSS by conducting a descriptive analysis and χ² test between those who have and those who do not have experience with bushfire evacuations.

Results

Over half of respondents who currently live or have lived in a bushfire risk area do not have a written bushfire response plan. Although most respondents reported that they had previously learned about the risk of bushfires in Australia, less than 20% knew the Australian emergency contact number, triple 0 for bushfires. A majority of those who experienced an evacuation fully understood the fire severity scale sign, but only half of those who had not experienced an evacuation fully understood the sign.

So What?

Relevant authorities and Australian universities could consider these findings and provide university students with appropriate information to prepare them for future bushfires.

Abstract Image

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准备玩火：探索澳大利亚大学生的丛林火灾准备和风险沟通

由于气候变化，极端天气事件预计会增加，因此了解澳大利亚年轻人的森林火灾防范措施至关重要，他们在夏季旅行时经常冒着安全风险开车穿过森林火灾危险地区。目前的研究调查了澳大利亚大学生对森林火灾风险管理和准备的知识。方法对148名大学生进行封闭式问卷调查。数据在SPSS中进行描述性分析，并对有和没有森林大火疏散经验的人进行χ2检验。结果目前居住或曾经居住在森林火灾风险地区的一半以上的受访者没有书面的森林火灾应对计划。尽管大多数受访者报告说，他们以前已经了解澳大利亚森林大火的风险，但只有不到20%的人知道澳大利亚的紧急联系电话，即森林大火的三个0。大多数经历过疏散的人完全理解火灾严重程度标志，但只有一半没有经历过疏散的人完全理解这个标志。那又怎样?有关当局和澳大利亚大学可以考虑这些发现，并为大学生提供适当的信息，使他们为未来的森林大火做好准备。

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来源期刊

Health Promotion Journal of Australia PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

3.10

自引率

10.50%

发文量

115

期刊介绍： The purpose of the Health Promotion Journal of Australia is to facilitate communication between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers involved in health promotion activities. Preference for publication is given to practical examples of policies, theories, strategies and programs which utilise educational, organisational, economic and/or environmental approaches to health promotion. The journal also publishes brief reports discussing programs, professional viewpoints, and guidelines for practice or evaluation methodology. The journal features articles, brief reports, editorials, perspectives, "of interest", viewpoints, book reviews and letters.