4.1. Types of Information Exchanged

Risk communication, what does it mean when we say risk communication okay. One in risk communication or in even in disaster risk communications, I am talking in a more, broader perspective, there should be one sender like local government okay. They want you to evacuate and so there is first in the disaster risk communications, we need one sender okay and what they do, they send message informations okay about the risk and what can be done to people.

Risk communication involves an exchange of information regarding risks. In disaster risk communication specifically, there are usually two primary parties: the sender (often a local government or authority) and the receiver (the people at risk). The sender's role is to communicate vital information about risks and the necessary actions to mitigate those risks, such as evacuation plans during a disaster.

Imagine a school sending out a notice to parents about a potential snowstorm. The school (sender) is informing parents (receivers) about the risk of snow, advising them to prepare for possible school closures. This helps parents plan accordingly and keeps everyone safe.

Now, this exchange of information is about risk but when the senders passing the information, passing the information to the receivers, there is a motive. The motive is the sender wants to change the mind of receiver okay, change his mind, changed perception and changed behaviour.

The exchange of information between senders and receivers in risk communication is purposeful. This means that beyond simply sharing information, senders aim to influence the receivers' perceptions and behaviors. For example, a government might share information about the necessity to evacuate due to an oncoming hurricane with the intention of encouraging residents to leave in order to ensure their safety.

Think of advertisements that promote health products. The company (sender) shares information about the benefits of their product with the goal of changing how customers view its effectiveness (changing perceptions) and prompting them to purchase it (changing behavior).

In risk communications, when we say we are exchanging informations, we are directly or indirectly talking about some particular hazards and risk. It could be a heart problem, it could be arsenic contaminations of groundwater and that’s causing the cancers to the people or it could be flood-related issues.

The information exchanged in risk communications revolves around specific hazards and risks. This can include health risks like heart problems or environmental issues such as contaminated water. Effective communication focuses on educating receivers about these risks to improve their awareness and preparedness.

Consider a public health campaign against smoking. The campaign shares information about the risks of lung cancer and heart diseases linked to smoking (hazards). This information aims to raise awareness and encourage healthier lifestyle choices among the population.

When we are saying that the exchange of informations, what is the meaning of content of that, what kind of content they should discuss, of course, they are talking about risk but what is, what component of risk they are talking about, so that’s we are talking okay.

Effective risk communication should not only convey that a risk exists but also define who is affected by this risk and to what extent. For instance, during a flood warning, it is important to specify which neighborhoods are at risk and how many residents might be impacted. This information helps individuals assess their situation and take appropriate actions.

If there is a food safety alert about a particular brand of peanut butter that may contain harmful bacteria, the communication should clearly state which products are affected and guide consumers about what to do if they have purchased that brand, emphasizing who is at risk.

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