NERS NEWS — Munakata, July 16, 2026 — The delegation from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga (Unair), participated in a simulation exercise on elderly people in disaster situations at the Japanese Red Cross Kyushu International College of Nursing (JRCKICN), Munakata, Japan, on Thursday, July 16. The activity was part of the Student Outbound program, providing a learning experience on protecting vulnerable groups during emergencies and disasters.
During the simulation exercise, students acted as elderly individuals in a disaster situation to gain a direct understanding of the challenges and needs of this vulnerable group. Through this experience, students learned about safety, communication, mobility, and assistance that need to be considered when elderly people face emergency situations, including during evacuation. The simulation provided students with a perspective on the importance of providing care that is appropriate to the conditions and needs of elderly people in disaster situations.
The activity continued with a district survey in the Yoshitake Area. The delegation observed the surrounding environment to identify the characteristics of the area and potential risks that could affect the community during a disaster. Through this activity, students learned to connect environmental conditions with disaster preparedness and mitigation at the community level.
The simulation exercise and district survey aimed to integrate nursing education with disaster management concepts, particularly in protecting vulnerable groups. The activities supported the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being through strengthening understanding of healthcare services for vulnerable groups, SDG 4: Quality Education through experiential learning, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities through strengthening understanding of community preparedness and resilience in facing disasters.
Through these activities, the Faculty of Nursing Unair delegation is expected to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the needs of vulnerable groups and develop preparedness as future healthcare professionals in responding to emergencies and disasters. This experience also enriched students’ perspectives on the implementation of community-based disaster management in an international context.
Writer: Talitha Maulia Nada
