Page 251 - Health, Population and Environment Education 9

7. Setting up well trained intervention groups specialized in forecasting avalanches and
rescuing persons buried by the snow, and making available the necessary means of
intervention (rescue dogs).

Things to be done during the avalanche
1. Keep calm, do not panic. If possible help neighbours in difficulty, the handicapped,
children, the aged and shelterless.
2. Know how to react and behave in case of an avalanche and act accordingly.
3. Obey the orders of the authorities and the intervention teams regarding the evacuation
of people and livestock. Do not forget to cut off the gas, electricity and water and lock
the door with a key.

4. Listen to the radio but do not use the telephone without good reason as this overloads
the network.

Things to do after the occurrence of avalanche
1. Keep calm, do not panic
2. Check if there are any wounded or persons in difficulty in the neighbourhood and
assist them
3. Listen to the radio but do not use the telephone unless absolutely necessary.

4. Collaborate with the official rescue and assistance organs.
5. Help in treating livestock and in emergency repair work.
6. Help to identify the victims.

7. Check the electric circuit carefully.

2 Risks induced by human activities
The earth today is populated by more than seven billion people. We are affecting every part
of the earth, directly or through worldwide pollution and climate change. Anthropogenic
environmental changes threaten human health by causing food and water scarcity,
increasing the risks for natural disasters and displacements of population, and increasing
the risks of infection diseases.

The risks induced by human activities are called human induced risks. Anthropogenic
hazards are hazards caused by human action or inaction. They are contrasted with
natural disasters. Anthropogenic hazards may adversely affect humans, other organisms
and ecosystems.

Human induced risks include the loss of life property and physical structures. These risks
affect the socio-economic life of the people. Human activities are responsible for a number
of risks. Some of them are mentioned below:
1. Risk of landslide due to deforestation.
2. Risk of flood due to outburst of dam.
GREEN Environment Population and Health Education Book-9 251