1997 Volume 48 Issue 10 Pages 903-913
A study was conducted on risk-management of clothing that may help people protect themselves physically and psychologically from the shock of an emergency such as the Great Hanshin Earthquake. This study resulted from a determination of the hardships sufferers experienced in and after the earthquake, as was clarified in our first report.
It was learned that most of the sufferers had their greatest interest in clothing against the cold at the time of their emergent escape during that winter season, in the order of overcoats and then underwear, either wrapped or collected randomly. Through their devastated, waterless living that followed, they paid efforts especially in the procurement of underwears.
Those who took advantage of relief materials accounted for only 33.1 % of all sufferers. This benefit naturally centered on sufferers living in officially-provided residences. Underwear, however, was not necessarily welcome because of size, cleanliness, etc.
A survey conducted 1 year after the earthquake showed that 31 % of sufferers whose houses were partially destroyed had never previously set aside “emergency clothing.” Most of the sufferers felt it was important to do so only immediately after the disaster.
Now the necessity for risk-management education of clothing, such as keeping a stock of underwear for emergencies, has been brought to light.
