Organizations already working with students know that they offer unique connections within their communities and are better able to communicate with their fellow students and inspire action among their peers. What’s more, those involved with teaching students about service and volunteerism at an early age also know that it can help establish lifelong habits that have a positive effect on the entire community!
ASPR wants to work with organizations involved with students to get them to start thinking about how health resilience and health security tie into fun and educational volunteer activities. There are a lot of different activities students can take part in that help keep themselves and the people around them healthy, strong, and safe before, during, and after a disaster or emergency.
Disasters could strike at any time, and when they do, they could threaten the health of an entire community – particularly young people. But all members of a community—including students—can do their part to prepare before this happens and help prevent these consequences.
Here are just a few examples of activities students can take part in that help strengthen national health security:
- Throw a block party or a fun community event– Connecting with neighbors and different members of the community so everyone, including students, can get to know each other better can be a great way to help support national health security. Since help after a disaster will likely come from a friend or neighbor, making new social connections is important.
- Connect online– For a neighborhood, a school, or a youth group, creating a Facebook group or connecting through other social media or on apps like Nextdoor
can be a great way to provide a place for people to share news or important emergency information. It can also be somewhere for people to start making new friendships, which are important in increasing resilience.
- Get certified- First aid, CRP, AED (automated external defibrillator), and bystander preparedness trainings or certifications are all ways in which students can support national health security and make themselves stronger members of the community in the process. The American Red Cross, offers a number of different trainings across the country.
- Volunteer- Many students are volunteering already, which is great! Volunteering with local nonprofit organizations that work on improving community health, like 4-H, Junior Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), or HOSA Future Health Professionals, is yet another way students in your community can support health security while building strong skills for their futures. For example, volunteers in Junior Medical Reserve Corps often work to set up blood drives in their communities. Click here to find a local MRC in your area.
You can empower students of all ages to prepare and protect themselves and others so they can bounce back from disasters and emergencies. In giving students the knowledge they need to keep themselves, their families, and their friends healthy while also serving their community, you’re helping them to build health resilience. It’s this health resilience at a community level that strengthens national health security.
Want to learn more about what young people can do to be involved with national health security? Check out materials and resources from ASPR that provide students with a range of activities they can take part in within their communities.
Stay connected! Be sure to follow us on Facebook at Public Health Emergency and Twitter @PHEgov.
You can also visit www.PHE.gov/NHSS for more information on national health security.
