The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing financial backing for a game-based website to teach kids about disaster preparedness. The game, Disaster Hero, created by the American College of Emergency Physicians and game developer Legacy Interactive, will follow the “Disaster Hero” as he helps families through common disasters, including earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Kids will learn how to prepare and what to do during and after an emergency.
Each disaster provides a variety of game experiences. For instance, a puzzle teaches the user how to plot an escape route. The hidden object game teaches users what items belong in an emergency supply kit.
Downloadable learning activities and additional instructional materials for teachers and parents will be available at the website DisasterHero.com. The game debuts in early 2011.
The government, under the Federal Trade Commission, recently launched another education-based web game, Admongo, to teach children how advertising works. (YMA, FTC Outlines Its Reasoning Behind Tween Targeted Ad Campaign,” July 1, 2010).
Sources: American College of Emergency Physicians, Angela Gardner, President, 1125 Executive Circle, Irving, TX 75038; 800-798-1822; membership@acep.org; www.acep.org.
Legacy Interactive, Ariella Lehrer, President/CEO, 617 W. 7th St., #403, Los Angeles, CA 90017; 213-895-7600, x102; ariella@legacyinteractive.com; www.legacyinteractive.com.
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