Assessing Mehr-e-Moharram Public Education Plan of Red Crescent Society in 2007

BackgroundAn emergency plan was done by public education group work of Red Crescent Society cooperating with Disaster Management Organization with the aim of familiarizing in villager's effective activities and promoting their awareness before, during and after disasters. This study aims to evaluate the plan function of all Red Crescent Society branches in the country.MethodsRed Crescent Society and public education group work considered over 10,000 of villages in plan of Mehre Moharram by using the published book of Red Crescent Society as Disasters: Prevention, Response and First Aid.FindingsAccording to the results, over 773,222 brochures were distributed in 5284 villages in cooperation with 5,295 mosques. Also, 143,112 women and 157,484 men were trained (about 50,528 hours) by trainers (2,964 female and 3671 male); 2,264 had academic grades (bachelor, MA and etc). Base on pretest and posttest, the villager's awareness increased after plan performing. The analyzed data shows that the average score of awareness was 17/23±8/8 and 30/58±5/4 in pretest and posttest which is increased in posttest meaningfully (p<0.05).ConclusionDespite performance difficulties, the present plan could get effective achievements. Undoubtedly, public education is the most effective strategy to face unexpected disasters. It should be used of people learning tendency in relief skills as an opportunity by disasters plan makers and mangers.