Disaster Response, Preparedness, and Safety

Disaster response and preparedness is vital for all Nebraskans. In this category 4-H members have the opportunity to share what they learned about a disaster, how they responded and will have a place to share their successes in disaster recovery. They can also create exhibits about all-terrain vehicles, fire, and tractor safety. In addition, participants can also create informational exhibits about basic safety strategies. Through involvement in this category, 4-H members will be better educated about disaster response and recovery and personal safety. For more resources and materials in this category refer to the resource section.

  1. Posters must be no larger than 22 inches x 28 inches.
  2. Scrapbooks are to be exhibited in a three-ring binder.
  3. Multi-media presentations are to be uploaded to a video streaming application and 4-H member must provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or link on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.

Entries per Individual - One entry per exhibitor per class. Limit of 4 entries per exhibitor per project. All static exhibits must have received a purple ribbon at the county fair to advance to the State Fair. 

Scoresheets and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hsafety. An explanation of projects and curriculum resources can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/resouces/projects/.

DISASTER RECOVERY AND RESPONSE CLASSES

PREMIUMS: Purple, $4.00; Blue, $3.00; Red, $2.00; and White, $1.00

All exhibits in this division are focused on preparing for or responding to a weather-related or man-made disaster. 

E440003           Disaster Kit (Emergency Preparedness) (Scoresheet SF111) - Disaster kits must contain the materials to prepare a person or family for emergency conditions caused by a natural or man-made incident. Selection of materials is left to the exhibitor. Family or group kits must have enough material or items for each person. A description of the kit’s purpose, the number of people supported, and a list of contents is required. 4-H members are encouraged to test their kit by challenging their family to try to survive using only the included materials for the designated time. If tested, share that experience in kit documentation.  Please include an explanation of drinking water needs for your disaster kit. Do not bring actual water to the fair in the kit. 

E444007           Disaster Preparedness Learning Experience (Scoresheet SF193) – Create a poster, scrapbook or multi-media presentation promoting a preparedness training or a recovery message or response to a weather-related or man-made disaster.  Examples of training could include a first aid or first responder training, a farm safety day camp, babysitting workshop or similar events; scientific experiment related to safety related to a weather-related disaster; or the youth’s response to an emergency situation in that disaster event.  Documentation should include evidence of your family’s or community’s preparedness, response or recovery for the disaster topic or training experience. Documentation should include evidence of your family’s or community’s preparedness, response or recovery for the disaster topic or training experience.

E444008           Care Package Display (Scoresheet SF194) - This exhibit is a display about the PROCESS of creating and giving a care package, not the actual care package. You may use a poster or multi-media program to tell about the PROCESS of developing and giving a care package to a recipient who has experienced a weather or man-made disaster. Multi-media presentations are to be uploaded to a video streaming application and 4-H member must provide a hard copy of QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or link on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing. 

                        Answer the following questions in your exhibit. 

  • How did you select the organization? 
  • What items did you include in your care package? 
  • Why did you select those items? 
  • How did it feel to present your care pack to the recipient? 
  • What did you learn from this experience? 
  • Other information that you feel is important about the care package or recipient. 

                        Examples of care packages are, replacement of toys lost in a disaster for the children, personal hygiene kits for individuals displaced after a disaster, soup in a jar, etc.

E444009           TELLING A STORY DISPLAY (Scoresheet SF195) – Exhibit will include three photos to tell a story. Photos should capture the beginning, middle, and end of a single story, project, or event showcasing a weather-related event, or man-made disaster. Display will consist of three 4 inch x 6 inch photos mounted on a single horizontal 11 inch x 14 inch black or white poster or mat board. Include a caption of a few sentences to explain the story the photos are telling.

FIRE SAFETY CLASSES

PREMIUMS: Purple, $4.00; Blue, $3.00; Red, $2.00; White, $1.00

E450001           Fire Safety Poster (Scoresheet SF269) - This is a home floor plan drawn to scale showing primary and secondary escape routes and where fire extinguishers and smoke detectors are located. Draw every room, including all doors and windows. Use black or blue arrows showing primary escape routes from each room. Use red arrows showing secondary routes to use if the primary routes are blocked. Primary and secondary escape routes must lead outside to an assembly location. Documentation should include evidence the escape plan has been practiced at least four times. 

E450002           Fire Prevention Poster or Scrapbook (Scoresheet SF268) - Poster or scrapbook promoting a fire prevention message and be appropriate to display during National Fire Prevention Week or to promote fire safety at specific times of the year (Halloween, 4th of July, etc.). Originality, clarity and artistic impression will all be judged. Do not include live fireworks, matches or other flammable/explosive/hazardous materials. Any entry containing this material will be disqualified. 

SAFETY CLASSES

PREMIUMS: Purple, $4.00; Blue, $3.00; Red, $2.00; and White, $1.00

E440001           General Purpose First Aid Kit (Scoresheet SF110) - A first aid kit is a good way to organize supplies in an emergency. The kit should be assembled in a container appropriate for use in a home. A description of where the kit will be stored and examples of specific emergencies the kit is designed for should be included in the exhibit. The kit should include a written inventory and purpose statement for included items. Consider items needed to cover the following areas of first aid: airway and breathing, bleeding control, burn treatment, infectious disease protection, fracture care and miscellaneous supplies. Use Citizen Safety manual, 4-H 425, pages 6 & 7 for guidance. No purchased first aid kits allowed.
Kits containing any of the following will be automatically disqualified:

  • Prescription medications. (If the kit’s purpose is to provide medication for someone with special needs, explain in the written description and inventory, but remove the medication.)
  • Materials with expiration dates on or before the judging date. (This includes sterile items, non-prescription medications, ointments, salves, etc. Articles dated month and year only are considered expired on the last day of that month.)
  • Any controlled substance.

E440002           Specific Purpose First Aid Kit (Scoresheet SF192) - A first aid kit is a good way to organize supplies in an emergency in a variety of situations and locations. The kit should be assembled in a container appropriate for the kit’s intended purpose. Examples could include a kit for a vehicle, recreational vehicle, boat, livestock building, camping, etc. A description of where the kit will be stored and examples of specific emergencies expected for that location should be included in the exhibit. The kit should include a written inventory and purpose statement for included items. Items included should be relevant to the kit’s intended purpose. Consider items needed to cover the following areas of first aid: airway and breathing, bleeding control, burn treatment, infectious disease protection, fracture care, and miscellaneous supplies. Use Citizen Safety manual, 4-H425, pages 6 and 7 for guidance. No purchased first aid kits are allowed.

  • Prescription medications. (If the kit’s purpose is to provide medication for someone with special needs, explain in the written description and inventory, but remove the medication.)
  • Material with expiration dates on or before the judging date. (This includes sterile items, non-prescription medications, ointments, salves, etc. Articles dated month and year only are considered expired on the last day of the month.)
  • Any controlled substance.

E440005           Safety Experience Poster or Scrapbook (Scoresheet SF190) - Share a learning experience the 4-H member had related to safety or incident types. Examples could be participating in a first aid or first responder training, a farm safety day camp, babysitting workshop or similar event; scientific experiment related to safety; or the 
4-H member’s response to an emergency situation. Include a detailed description of the experience, the 4-H member’s role, some evidence of the member’s leadership in the situation and a summary of the learning that took place. Exhibits may be presented in a poster with supplemental documentation, a notebook including up to ten pages of narrative and pictures, or a multimedia presentation lasting up to five minutes. 

E444006           Careers in Safety (Scoresheet SF191) - The exhibit should identify a specific career area in the safety field and include education and certification requirements for available positions, salary information, demand for the field and a summary of the 4-H member’s interest in the field. Examples of careers include firefighters, paramedics, emergency management personnel, some military assignments, law enforcement officers, emergency room medical personnel, fire investigator and more. It is recommended 4-H members interview a professional in the field of their research. Additional research sources might include books, articles, career web sites, job-related government web sites or interviews with career placement or guidance counselors. Exhibits may be presented in a poster with supplemental documentation, a notebook including up to ten pages of narrative and pictures, or a multimedia presentation lasting up to five minutes.  

ATV SAFETY CLASS (** Denotes NOT State Fair Eligible) 

This project teaches you how to operate the All-Terrain-Vehicle safely and the parts of the vehicle. Some examples of an exhibit or poster are:

  • Show some part or system of an ATV, worn or broken part, step-by-step repair procedure, etc. Include a brief description. Display on a board 24 inches high x 32 inches wide and ¼ inch thick. 
  • Educational notebook, display, collection of materials that relate to project. Include 8 ½ inches x 11 inches page describing exhibit and summary of learning.
  • Poster 14 inches x 22 inches with photos of yourself demonstrating safety measures necessary for ATV operation. 

PREMIUMS: Purple, $4.00; Blue, $3.00; Red, $2.00; White, $1.00

**E451901       ATV Safety Poster or Exhibit (Scoresheet CF83 or SF223)

BICYCLE SAFETY CLASSES (** Denotes NOT State Fair Eligible)

This project teaches you how to have safe fun with a bicycle. Things a 4-H member can do in this project are learn the rules of the road for safe bike riding; keep your bike in good running condition; and adjust your bike for best riding. Display with photos or actual parts on a board 24 inches x 32 inches and ¼ inch thick. Display one of the following:

            1. Parts or system of a bicycle.

            2. Worn out or broken parts and how to fix them.

            3. Step-by-step procedure of how some repair or service job is performed.

PREMIUMS: Purple, $4.00; Blue, $3.00; Red, $2.00; White, $1.00

**E453901         Bicycle Safety Poster – 14 inches x 22 inches either vertical or horizontal arrangement. (Scoresheet CF83)

**E453902         Bicycle Safety Display (Scoresheet CF223)

TRACTOR SAFETY CLASS (** Denotes NOT State Fair Eligible)

This project provides a good base for instruction on safety awareness, understanding of controls and safety checks, and safe tractor operation. 

PREMIUMS: Purple, 4.00; Blue, $3.00; Red, $2.00; White, $1.00

**E457901         Tractor Safety Poster or Display (Scoresheet CF83 or CF223) Poster - 14 inches x 22 inches either vertical or horizontal arrangement. Display - 24 inches x 32 inches board ¼ inch thick.