Summary
The Federal Office for Civil Protection (BABS) published a voluntary learning unit on June 23, 2026, for young people aged 14 to 18. The curriculum imparts knowledge about disasters and emergencies in Switzerland as well as the national risk analysis. The course materials comprise four teaching lessons with theory, practical exercises, and interactive tasks. Teachers can flexibly adapt the material to their needs. BABS developed the learning unit in collaboration with EBP Switzerland AG in response to heightened international security risks and increasing natural hazards.
Persons
- Federal Office for Civil Protection (BABS) (Federal agency; Developer)
Topics
- Disaster protection
- Risk communication
- School education and prevention
- National Risk Analysis (KNS)
- Civil protection
Clarus Lead
The initiative addresses a growing gap in disaster preparedness: While the federal government conducts risk analyses, there is a lack of systematic awareness-raising among the young population. BABS relies on a multiplier effect—young people are to pass on acquired knowledge within their families and friend circles, thereby strengthening societal resilience. Against the backdrop of the current national risk analysis (March 2026), disaster awareness becomes a strategic investment in civil capacity for action.
Detailed Summary
The learning unit aims to improve personal and societal resilience. Students receive an overview of Switzerland's relevant hazards and learn how risks are analyzed. A core aspect is the imparting of personal responsibility: The material shows which protective measures authorities take and which precautionary steps each person can initiate themselves.
The course materials are modularly structured and can be conducted as a four-hour comprehensive package or in individual lessons. This flexibility enables schools to adapt the material to their curriculum and the needs of their students. The curriculum combines theoretical content with practical exercises and interactive tasks. Schools with deeper interest can additionally register for a security week that offers specialized training.
Key Messages
- BABS provides schools with free, modularly structured curriculum that sharpens disaster awareness among young people.
- The learning unit is based on the current national risk analysis (March 2026) and conveys both government measures and individual preparedness options.
- The multiplier effect is intended to empower young people to disseminate disaster competencies in their social environment and thereby strengthen societal resilience.
Critical Questions
Evidence: Are evaluation results available showing that the learning unit actually leads to improved risk perception and personal responsibility, or is the expectation based on theoretical assumptions?
Reach: How many schools are expected to implement the learning unit, and are there differences between urban and rural regions or between language regions?
Multiplier Effect: What mechanisms should ensure that young people actually pass on what they have learned in their environment, and how is this effect measured?
Currency: How frequently will the learning unit be updated to integrate new findings from the national risk analysis?
Resources: Do schools receive financial or personnel support for implementation, or do they bear the costs themselves?
Practice Orientation: To what extent does the learning unit prepare young people for concrete emergency scenarios, and are there differences between theoretical knowledge and practical capacity to act?
Sources
Primary Source: Federal Office for Civil Protection (BABS): Learning Unit on Disasters and Emergencies – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/mj2expqOKTrz
Supplementary Sources:
- BABS National Risk Analysis "Disasters and Emergencies Switzerland (KNS)" – March 2026
- EBP Switzerland AG (Cooperation partner in development)
Verification Status: ✓ 23.06.2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 23.06.2026