Coupling school risk reduction strategies with LAMESA (life-saving automated “mesa” to endure seismic activity) for kindergarten

• Main Authors: Morales, Marie Paz E., Valenzuela, Ira C., Abulon, Edna Luz R., Arago, Nilo M., Mancao, Ma. Carmela T.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2019
• Subjects: Emergency management > Philippines; Desk sets; Earthquakes—Philippines; Manufacturing
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/2051
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study linked school risk reduction and disaster preparedness strategy using a designed automated study desk for kindergarten. This desk, LAMESA (Life-saving Automated “Mesa” to Endure Seismic Activity), aimed to provide the education system with a resilient study desk for kindergarten. Design and development research used lightweight but highly strong and elastic materials to build the automated desk conforming to the kindergarten standards. The system and program designs ensured good peak ground acceleration (PGA) and a fix response time (4 sec.) to effectively and efficiently facilitate “duck (drop), cover, hold” actions of kindergartens to shield them from debris in the eventuality of a strong seismic activity. Purposively chosen experts (engineers, scientists, and programmers) and stakeholders (kindergarten teachers, the laboratory school principal, parents, and district supervisor) evaluated the automated desk as excellent in features, design, and visual; as a warning system when earthquakes occur; as safety infrastructure for students; and as a learning tool. For holistic packaging, the desk may undergo strength test and is also recommended to include ad materials and training kits.© 2019, Department of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.