Average time away from children exceeds 9 hours per day
80% of families may not be able to confirm that their children are safe during a disaster
Parents and children need a "safe and secure way to connect" both in normal times and in times of disaster.
- The following is content from the press release -
Survey Summary
(Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan; President: KeitaoHan_2F4A↩ (hereafter, "the Company"), the developer of Japan's No.1*1 ︓ child safety GPS "BoT Talk", conducted a "Survey on Children's Disaster Preparedness" among approximately 1,200 parents with elementary school students in their 20s to 50s nationwide (hereafter, "the Survey"). The survey was conducted among approximately 1,200 parents of primary school students in their 20's to 50's nationwide.
In recent years, the risk of disaster has been increasing year by year due to the occurrence of major earthquakes such as the Noto Peninsula earthquake, the Nankai Trough earthquake, earthquakes in the Kurushima Trench and the Japan Trench, and earthquakes directly under the capital city within 30 years. In spite of such situation, only 29.31% of parents answered that they are "prepared" for disaster prevention at home, and only 19.91% of parents are aware of "disaster prevention for their children".
We have been providing services that place the utmost importance on the safety of children and their parents. In order to provide even more parents with the safety and peace of mind for their children, we have conducted this survey with a particular focus on "disaster prevention for children". In addition, we have received expert comments on disaster prevention measures from Mr. Takamasa Wada, a disaster prevention specialist, regarding the results of this survey, and have summarized them for each survey item.
*1︓Surveyed by Ideation Inc.
Internet survey (January 6 to January 10, 2025) of 19,195 men and women in their 30s and 40s with children aged 4 to primary school 6th grade nationwide, comparing the top 10 services in a Google search for "child-watching GPS services (services that use GPS terminals as apps to find and find them).
https://www.ideation.co.jp/column/child_gps2025
We asked about 1,200 parents with primary school students nationwide.
Survey on Children's Awareness of Disaster Preparedness
Regarding household disaster preparedness, although they have stockpiled supplies such as water and non-perishable foods, about 70% of households have not "confirmed where to meet up with family members" or "shared evacuation routes.
The survey revealed that many of the households that answered that they have disaster preparedness measures in place have stockpiled supplies such as water (67.6%) and food supplies (64.2%), while nearly 70% have not made preparations for actual actions in the event of a disaster such as confirming where to meet the family (31.3%) and sharing evacuation routes (21.9%). However, nearly 70% have not yet made preparations for actual actions in the event of a disaster, such as "confirming where to meet family members" (31.3%) and "sharing evacuation routes" (21.9%).
The survey revealed that although households are relatively well prepared for disaster prevention measures such as stockpiling water and food, they are not well prepared for sharing evacuation routes and confirming family meeting points, which are essential in the event of a real disaster. Stockpiling is important, but it alone is not sufficient.
In the event of an earthquake, it is especially important to take precautions when sleeping unprotected. To make your bedroom a safe space, secure large furniture and remove falling objects, install disaster prevention film on windows, and keep a security light, sports shoes, and valuables, including smartphones, at your bedside.
In addition, although condominiums are often considered comparatively safe, there is a risk that during an earthquake, infrastructure such as electricity and water supply may stop, elevators and toilets may become inoperable, and it may be difficult to obtain rationed supplies, making life difficult for the residents. Especially in urban areas, there is a risk of not being able to get to an evacuation shelter, so condominium residents need to stockpile more supplies than those living in houses. Generally speaking, it is recommended to stockpile a three-day supply, but in the case of condominiums, it is recommended to have at least a one-week supply.
It is most important to have safety measures in place in your own home, rather than relying on evacuation centers. In addition to stockpiling supplies, please confirm and share specific actions such as evacuation routes and rendezvous points among family members, and promote comprehensive disaster prevention measures.
Only 20% of parents have thought of "communication methods" for their children's disaster preparedness.
The implementation rate is about 12% lower than the "household disaster preparedness rate," and is far behind the "household disaster preparedness rate.
It was also clear that parents' awareness was uneven. While basic actions such as "sharing evacuation sites" (47.7%) and "confirming the route home" (43.8%) were observed, only 21.3% of parents "have decided on a method of communication in case of emergency" and 12.2% of parents "have their children carry a communication terminal", indicating that little progress has been made in securing communication methods. The situation is that there has been almost no progress in securing a means of communication. The overall rate of implementation of disaster prevention measures specifically for children was 12.2%*2 lower than the rate for households as a whole, highlighting the fact that children's disaster prevention measures are lagging far behind.
*2︓Calculated from the percentage of parents who responded "have home disaster preparedness measures in place" who have implemented any of the measures (n=352)
From the results of this survey, it seems that the disaster prevention measures for children, especially the communication system is not well prepared for MSDS. There is a possibility that a disaster may occur while the children are at school. It is extremely important to clarify the communication system with the school in advance (contact network, checking the website, etc.) and to share "how to contact in case of disaster" within the family. Although it is easy to think that the school is relatively safe due to the presence of a managing landlord, it is necessary for parents to confirm in advance to what extent the school is actually capable of responding to the situation.
Also, when teaching the children about disaster prevention behavior, it is effective to focus on two or three simple and specific behavior displays such as "Do not run out" and "Protect your head with a pillow". If you give complicated directions, it may cause confusion or panic. Although actions such as "hide under the desk" may not be suitable for all situations, simple and unified actions as a group will prevent confusion and panic. In order for children to be able to act safely, it is recommended to prepare a manual for specific actions within the family and share and confirm it repeatedly.
1 out of 2 parents do not know how to contact the school in the event of a disaster.
More than 70% of the parents who are away from their children for more than 9 hours a day may not be able to see their children in the event of a disaster.
Regarding how they would confirm the safety of their children at school in the event of a disaster, 40.6% of the parents answered that they would "pick up their children directly from school" and 33.0% answered that they would "wait for information from the school". It can be seen that many families expect to rely on "information from the school".
On the other hand, 51.5% of the parents answered that they "do not know how they are contacted by the school," which is a majority of the total. This reveals the contradiction that many parents depend on the school to contact them, but do not know the specific method of communication.
This result indicates that not only the school's response to disasters, but also the parents are not discussing the specifics of cooperation and communication with the school. In order to increase the reliability of safety confirmation, it is essential to share the method of information transmission from the school and the communication system.
It is dangerous to think that you will be absolutely safe if you stay at school. It is not always possible for the school to conduct appropriate drills and evacuation displays. In fact, there was a case in which many children were killed in the Great East Japan Earthquake as a result of a delay in evacuation by a group.
On the other hand, some children's lives were saved by prompt and accurate evacuation guidance. In other words, it is important for parents and guardians to grasp the actual situation of the school's disaster response and communication system, and to confirm and cooperate with the school in advance, rather than leaving it to the school.
In addition, from the viewpoint of avoiding confusion, it is important to be aware of the importance of "not allowing children to act alone". If the children go to their own home on their own without being able to contact their parents, it may have a negative impact on the evacuation activities of other children. In order to avoid such a case, it is essential to make rules at home and share information with the school.
In addition, due to the increase in the number of working families, it was revealed that parents spend an average of 9 hours and 24 minutes away from their children on a normal day. Among these, 28.9% of parents answered that they discuss with their children the rules of the home in the event of a disaster outside of school, and 22.8% answered that they discuss with their children in outdoor facilities such as parks and open spaces, with both percentages remaining below 30%.
The most common method of confirming the safety of the children was to "pick them up in person" (41.7%), while 35.4% of the parents answered that they had not made a specific decision.
The results of this survey revealed that disaster prevention measures and safety confirmation rules, including those for out-of-school situations, are still inadequate in today's world where both parents work and have limited time to spend with their children.
60.4% of parents do not provide their children with communication tools
85% of parents use a "GPS device" rather than a smartphone to check on the safety of their children and to help them find and find their children.
The results showed that 20.6% of the parents have a "smart phone" and 12.7% have a "children's cellular phone" as a means to communicate with their children on a daily basis. On the other hand, 60.4% of the parents did not provide their children with a communication tool, indicating that many families do not have a means of daily communication with their children.
Only 20-30% of the parents answered that they "take their smart phones or other mobile phones to primary school" because there are restrictions on bringing them to school or using them, while 85% of the children who take their GPS terminals to primary school do not use them, indicating that they are used as a tool to carry with them on a daily basis. This indicates that the use of smartphones and ¡Èhomeworkers¡É is becoming more common. This indicates that since the use of smartphones and cell phones for children is limited, GPS terminals are carried on their person at all times and can be used as a tool to communicate and find out the whereabouts and safety of their children even in times of disaster or emergency.
It is extremely important for parents to know the whereabouts of their children in the event of a disaster. In recent years, the use of smartphone apps has become the preferred method, but for families who cannot bring smartphones to school or do not yet have children with smartphones, the use of a GPS terminal is very effective. In particular, the children's GPS "BoT", which allows two-way communication via voice, text and text, is reliable and offers peace of mind. The daily communication with your family, where they are, if they are safe and when you can see them, is very important information for risk management. It is important to have multiple means of communication on a daily basis.
In Kyushu, which experienced the Kumamoto earthquake, more families are strengthening "communication between parents and children" after the disaster.
-The rate of adoption of GPS with contact function is also much higher than the national average.
The results of this survey showed that when a disaster occurs, the most common methods of communication from schools to parents are e-mail, telephone, and LINE.
In addition, a comparison of disaster prevention measures strengthened after the experience of a disaster was done by region.
<Directory of Kanto
No. 1 "Reviewing household stockpiles" (45,5%); No. 2 "Confirming and sharing evacuation sites" (33.3%)
<Kyushu/Okinawa (parents who experienced the Kumamoto earthquake in 2016)
1st "Confirmation and sharing of evacuation sites" (39.4%), 2nd "Increasing daily communication between parents and children" (27.3%)
The result shows that parents in Kyushu and Okinawa tend to place more importance on daily parent-child communication. Furthermore, the percentage of families in Kyushu/Okinawa who gave their children cell phones, smart phones, and GPS terminals with communication functions after experiencing a disaster was found to be about 10% higher than the national average. These results indicate that many parents feel that "communication between parents and children" is important after experiencing a disaster.
In Japan, earthquake is the most common disaster that comes to mind, but in 2025, there is an increased risk of multiple disasters such as power failure, heat stroke, and increased damage from heavy rainfall, in addition to weather disasters such as floods, floods, and sandstorms. Japan is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, and it is important for the whole family to be involved in disaster prevention on a daily basis. In addition to understanding the disaster risks in your own community, it is important to prepare for infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and the disabled, check the earthquake resistance of your house and evacuation routes, stock up on food and water, share roles, and participate in disaster drills. In the event of a major disaster, especially in the Tokyo metropolitan area, there are concerns about the deterioration of public safety and the appearance of suspicious persons claiming to be "guardian's representatives". In order to protect children, families, and the elderly from such dangers, it is effective to have a system in place to communicate with schools and other facilities and to have a means of immediate communication and voice checks in the event of a disaster. In order to be prepared for the various disasters that may occur in the future, it is advisable to make efforts to increase the disaster preparedness of the whole family in your daily life.
What is the right "disaster prevention goods for children" recommended by Mr. Wada, a disaster prevention specialist?
While it is important to provide your children with the standard toys and snacks to help calm them down, it is also important to prepare equipment that will help keep them safe. The following items can help.
Disaster prevention goods for children" recommended by Mr. Wada, a disaster prevention specialist
- Sweets and toys
To calm the children's minds to avoid panic. - Helmets and caps
Required as basic equipment to protect the head. - Sterile wet wipes (non-alcoholic recommended)
Utilized for hygiene control and infection control. - mask
Essential for preventing dust and infectious diseases during disasters. - Medical Information Card
Allergies, blood type, and pre-existing medical conditions should be noted and kept on hand. - Luminescent goods (chemical lights, luminescent rings, etc.)
Useful for not losing your child during a nighttime evacuation - Unprocessed photo of family members
Leading to the discovery of family members who have lost their way. - Water bottle (cup)
For water at evacuation shelters, etc. - Children's Monitoring Terminal
Carry it with you at all times so that you can communicate with your children when not in use.
It is most effective to choose items that can be used not only in non-permanent use but also in daily life. For example, wet wipes, masks, water bottles, cups, etc. can be used automatically in times of disaster if you carry them with you. It is also desirable to be able to communicate with your children immediately when not in use, so it is recommended that you carry a child-viewing GPS terminal with you on a daily basis.
In the event of a major disaster, cell phone lines become congested, making it difficult to make voice calls, but the device can easily maintain communication with the children and send location information and messages to confirm the safety of the children. Furthermore, they are equipped with a battery that can operate for a long time, so they can be used safely even in times of disaster. In addition, there have been cases reported in the past earthquakes where family members were able to be found if they were separated from their family members by placing their family photo in their school bag. By taking such precautions on a daily basis, you can provide a safe and secure environment even when not used.
Takamasa Wada Profile / Comments
He is a disaster risk management advisor. After a near-death experience with an infectious disease, he became certified in "Disaster Prevention" and created disaster preparedness content for local governments and corporations. He has served as the editor-in-chief of a professional magazine. He also specializes in outdoor activities and survival techniques.
He has given lectures and seminars (remotely) and appeared on TV and in the mass media, and is an All About Disaster Prevention Guide.
Ensuring the safety of your young children is one of the most important responsibilities for parents and guardians. It is clear that in the event of a disaster, children are the most vulnerable to damage as 'disaster victims'. In order to prepare for such risks, preparation and awareness from normal times is of the utmost importance. In view of the fact that many disaster victims are "vulnerable to disasters", it is necessary for parents and guardians to think about what measures to take on a daily basis and act accordingly.
With regard to the "BoT" device, I was aware of the existence of GPS applications and GPS terminals that could check location information, but to be honest, I was surprised to find a product that allows two-way communication via voice and text. We strongly feel that this will allow us to go beyond just location information and use it as a new means of communication to connect with your children. In particular, the "BoT" can be used during normal times to pick up children on their way to and from school or when they are out, and in the event of an emergency, it can instantly confirm their whereabouts and safety, making it an extremely effective tool that is not used from the perspective of crime prevention or disaster prevention.
What is "BoT"?
BoT Talk" is Japan's only AI-based smartphone device that provides personalized voice messages to each family member by learning the family's behavior habits and interactions based on the movement history and voice messages from the AI. In addition to the voice messages, BoT Talk can send and receive unlimited voice messages between BoT Talk and the guardian's smartphone, making it a communication tool that allows family members to keep in touch with each other on a daily basis, not to mention SOS in case of trouble. It can be used as a communication tool not only for SOS in case of trouble, but also for daily communication among family members.
The "Voice AI" function enables voice recognition and voice synthesis, so the voice AI can transcribe the child's voice (talk) and the voice AI can read the text input by the parent or guardian. Parents can send and receive messages to each other even in environments where it is difficult to re-reserve or record voices, such as inside a car or in a quiet office.
The industry's first "Anshin Display" is newly equipped. The clock and remaining battery charge are displayed. This supports the child's independence by encouraging the habit of "taking care of one's own things", such as allowing the child to act in accordance with the time and recharging the battery by himself/herself. Furthermore, the time of day is also displayed so that you know when the voice message "talk" has been received, providing peace of mind and eliminating any misunderstandings. The icon of the sender (mom or dad) is displayed to give your child peace of mind and courage. On the other hand, the display does not include functions such as video, games or SNS.
Outline of B-Size Corporation
Company Name︓B-Size Corporation
Keita Sugi, Representative Director
Business: Telecommunications business, planning/design/manufacturing/sales of home appliances
Address: 3-2-3 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 222-0033, Japan
EPIC TOWER SHINYOKOHAMA 14th floor
Established September 2011
Capital Stock 5,000,000 yen
U R L︓ https://www.bsize.com/
For public relations inquiries, please contact ︓pr@bsize.com (Attn: Shimomura)
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