German President of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), Inge Paulini, wants to involve the public more in nuclear disaster drills. A new BfS study shows: “Only about two of ten people know what they should do in a nuclear emergency” Paulini told the Funke Media Group newspapers (Tuesday editions). “And that’s clearly not enough.”
People need to know more about how to protect themselves, explained Germany’s top official. “The times of change do not only apply to the military – they must also apply to civilian protection” Paulini said.
The Federal Office, which is subordinate to the Federal Environment Ministry, aims to convey this knowledge more strongly, explained BfS President Paulini. “Disaster drills with the public can be a component to make protection measures and their effectiveness tangible and to strengthen trust – even in drills for the case of a nuclear attack.”
Germany can only be prepared for a crisis if the public is also protected and able to protect itself, said Paulini to the Funke newspapers. This includes knowing what to do in an emergency with nuclear hazards.
In a survey of 2,002 people aged 16 and over across Germany, the Federal Office inquired about attitudes and knowledge of radiation in Germany. In the survey, published on Tuesday and reported on by the Funke newspapers in advance, only 22% of respondents said they knew what to do in an emergency.
It’s important to involve the public more, said Paulini. This can be in the context of warning days, or in new formats where people answer questions on their mobile phones. “This can also mean that everyone thinks about which room in their own home would be a suitable shelter” said the BfS President.