Prevention

Definitions

European Definition

Prevention means any action aimed at reducing risks or mitigating adverse consequences of a disaster for people, the environment and property, including cultural heritage.

All medical measures, health or other actions (e.g. social, political, economic) that reduce exposure or other risks, prevent the onset of a disease or a health event or limit the development, exacerbation, and ensure its demise.

[In the Radioactive/Nuclear domain], the term “prevention” is also used to describe the first line of protection against nuclear terrorism. Prevention includes measures to protect nuclear and other radioactive materials against theft or other form of loss of control, illegal possession, smuggling, and unauthorized use, as well as measures to protect nuclear installations and transport against sabotage and other malicious acts that can result in radiation exposure to the general public or the environment.

Other International Definitions

UNDRR

Prevention is the outright avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters.

Prevention (i.e. disaster prevention) expresses the concept and intention to completely avoid potential adverse impacts through action taken in advance.

Examples include dams or embankments that eliminate flood risks, land-use regulations that do not permit any settlement in high risk zones, and seismic engineering designs that ensure the survival and function of a critical building in any likely earthquake. Very often the complete avoidance of losses is not feasible and the task transforms to that of mitigation. Partly for this reason, the terms prevention and mitigation are sometimes used interchangeably in casual use.

Prévention: Ensemble d’activités permettant d’éviter complètement l’impact négatif des aléas, et de minimiser les catastrophes environnementales, technologiques et biologiques qui leur sont associées.

Предотвращение: Полное предупреждение отрицательного воздействия угроз и взаимосвязанных бедствий.

Prevención: La evasión absoluta de los impactos adversos de las amenazas y de los desastres conexos.

وقاية : التجنب التام لآثار المخاطر السلبية والكوارث المتصلة بها.

Pencegahan: Penghindaran total dari dampak-dampak merugikan yang diakibatkan ancaman bahayaancaman bahaya dan bencana-bencana terkait.

Pencegahan: Pengelakan langsung kesan buruk bahaya dan bencana yang berkaitan.

预防 - 避免现有的和新的灾害风险的活动和措施。

پيشگيري و جلوگيري
جلوگيري بي درنگ از اثرات نامطلوب و مخرب مخاطرات و بحران هاي مرتبط.

UNDHA

Prevention encompasses activities designed to provide permanent protection from disasters.

It includes engineering and other physical protective measures, and also legislative measures controlling land use and urban planning. See also "preparedness".

Prevención: Actividades diseñadas para proveer protección permanente de un desastre.

Incluye ingeniería y otras medidas de protección física, así como medidas legislativas para el control del uso de la tierra y la ordenación urbana. Ver también "preparación".

Prévention: Ensemble des actions destinées à fournir une protection permanente contre les catastrophes.

Comprend les mesures pratiques de protection "physique" et relevant de l'ingéniérie, comme les mesures législatives contrôlant l'aménagement du territoire et la planification urbaine. Voir aussi "préparation".

National Definitions

Argentina

Prevención: Conjunto de medidas y acciones dispuestas con anticipación para evitar la ocurrencia de daños ante el impacto de un evento adverso y/o para reducir sus consecuencias sobre la población, sus bienes, servicios, infraestructura y ambiente.

Australia

Prevention is regulatory and physical measures to ensure that emergencies are prevented, or their effects mitigated.

Prevention are measures to eliminate or reduce the incidence or severity of emergencies.

Austria

Prävention sind jede Maßnahme, die darauf abzielt, Risiken zu verringern oder die schädlichen Folgen von Katastrophen für Menschen, Umwelt und Eigentum, einschließlich Kulturgütern, abzuschwächen.

Belgium

Preventie: elke actie gericht op het verminderen van risico's of het verzachten van de nadelige gevolgen van een ramp voor mensen, het milieu en eigendommen, waaronder cultureel erfgoed.

Prevention: toute action visant à réduire les risques ou à limiter les conséquences négatives d'une catastrophe pour les personnes, l'environnement et les biens, y compris le patrimoine culturel.

Prävention sind jede Maßnahme, die darauf abzielt, Risiken zu verringern oder die schädlichen Folgen von Katastrophen für Menschen, Umwelt und Eigentum, einschließlich Kulturgütern, abzuschwächen.

Bulgaria

превенция означава всяко действие, насочено към намаляване на рисковете или смекчаване на неблагоприятните последици от бедствие за населението, околната среда и имуществото, включително културното наследство.

Canada

Prevention is actions taken to avoid the occurrence of negative consequences associated with a given threat.

Prévention: Activités visant à éliminer les impacts de catastrophes pour protéger la vie, les biens et l’environnement, et pour éviter les perturbations économiques.

Prevention activities may be included as part of mitigation.

Prévention: Ensemble des mesures, systèmes et équipements qui concourent à éviter que surviennent des accidents.

Croatia

Prevencija: znači svako djelovanje usmjereno na smanjenje rizika ili ublažavanje nepovoljnih posljedica katastrofe za ljude, okoliš i imovinu, uključujući kulturnu baštinu.

Cyprus

πρόληψη: κάθε δράση που αποσκοπεί στη μείωση των κινδύνων ή στο μετριασμό των δυσμενών συνεπειών καταστροφών σε πρόσωπα, στο περιβάλλον και στις περιουσίες, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς.

Czech Republic

Prevencí jakékoli opatření zaměřené na snížení rizika nebo zmírnění nepříznivých důsledků katastrof pro obyvatelstvo, životní prostředí nebo majetek včetně kulturního dědictví.

Denmark

Forebyggelse: enhver foranstaltning, der har til formål at mindske risici eller afbøde skadevirkningerne af en katastrofe for mennesker, miljøet og ejendom, herunder kulturarv.

El Salvador

Prevención: Medidas y acciones dispuestas con anticipación con el fin de evitar o impedir que se presente un fenómeno peligroso o para evitar o reducir su incidencia sobre la población, los bienes y servicios y el ambiente.

Estonia

Ennetamine: igasugune tegevus, mille eesmärk on vähendada riske või leevendada õnnetuste kahjulikke tagajärgi inimestele, keskkonnale või varale, sealhulgas kultuuripärandile.

Finland

(1) Onnettomuuksien ehkäisy: toiminta, jolla pyritään estämään onnettomuuksien tapahtuminen ja minimoimaan vahingot etukäteen.

Accident prevention is an action aiming at preventing the occurrence of accidents and minimising the damages beforehand. -unofficial translation-

(2) Vahingontorjunta: turvallisuutta tavoitteleva toiminta, jolla pyritään estämään onnettomuus tai pitämään onnettomuuden aiheuttamat vahingot mahdollisimman pieninä.

Loss/damage prevention is a safety-pursuant action aiming at the prevention of an accident or keeping the damages caused by an accident as small as possible. -unofficial translation-

Ennaltaehkäisyllä: tarkoitetaan toimia, joilla on tarkoitus vähentää riskejä tai rajoittaa katastrofeista ihmisille, ympäristölle, omaisuudelle, kulttuuriperintö mukaan lukien, aiheutuvia haitallisia seurauksia.

France

Prevention: toute action visant à réduire les risques ou à limiter les conséquences négatives d'une catastrophe pour les personnes, l'environnement et les biens, y compris le patrimoine culturel.

Germany

Prävention sind jede Maßnahme, die darauf abzielt, Risiken zu verringern oder die schädlichen Folgen von Katastrophen für Menschen, Umwelt und Eigentum, einschließlich Kulturgütern, abzuschwächen.

Unter dem Begriff Prävention versteht man alle Maßnahmen zur Vermeidung von Schadensereignissen.

Vorsorge: Summe aller vorbeugenden und vorbereitenden Maßnahmen, die zur Vermeidung, Verringerung und/oder Bewältigung von Schadensereignissen ergriffen werden können.

Guatemala

Prevención: Conjunto de actividades y medidas (administrativas, legales, técnicas, organizativas, etc.) realizadas anticipadamente, tendientes a evitar al máximo el impacto de un fenómeno destructor y que éste se transforme en un desastre causando daños humanos y materiales, económicos y ambientales en una comunidad o territorio determinado.

Greece

πρόληψη: κάθε δράση που αποσκοπεί στη μείωση των κινδύνων ή στο μετριασμό των δυσμενών συνεπειών καταστροφών σε πρόσωπα, στο περιβάλλον και στις περιουσίες, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς.

Hungary

Megelőzés: minden olyan intézkedés, amely a katasztrófák következtében a személyeket, a környezetet és a tulajdont – beleértve a kulturális örökséget is – fenyegető kockázatok csökkentését vagy a káros következmények enyhítését célozza.

India

Prevention: The outright avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters.

Ireland

Prevention means any action aimed at reducing risks or mitigating adverse consequences of a disaster for people, the environment and property, including cultural heritage.

Italy

Prevenzione: qualsiasi azione intesa a ridurre i rischi o a mitigare gli effetti negativi di una catastrofe per le persone, l'ambiente e i beni, compreso il patrimonio culturale.

Prevenzione: attività volte ad evitare o ridurre al minimo la possibilità che si verifichino danni conseguenti ad un evento calamitoso e comprendono gli interventi strutturali e non strutturali quali la pianificazione di emergenza, le esercitazioni di protezione civile, la formazione e l’informazione alla popolazione.

Prevenzione: Tutela nei confronti di qualcosa di dannoso attraverso opportuni accorgimenti: prevenzione delle malattie, della tossicodipendenza; norme per la prevenzione degli infortuni. Il complesso delle misure di protezione adottate nei confronti di calamità naturali o antropiche.

Latvia

Novēršana: ir jebkura darbība, kuras mērķis ir mazināt riskus vai mīkstināt katastrofas negatīvās sekas attiecībā uz cilvēkiem, vidi un īpašumu, tostarp kultūras mantojumu.

Lithuania

Parengtis: išankstiniais veiksmais pasiektas žmogiškųjų ir materialinių išteklių, struktūrų, bendruomenių ir organizacijų pasirengimas ir gebėjimai, kuriais galima užtikrinti veiksmingą greitą reagavimą į nelaimę.

Luxembourg

Prevention: toute action visant à réduire les risques ou à limiter les conséquences négatives d'une catastrophe pour les personnes, l'environnement et les biens, y compris le patrimoine culturel.

Madagascar

Prévention: Mesures réglementaires ou dispositifs matériels pour garantir la protection permanente contre les catastrophes et la réduction de leurs effets. Comprend les mesures pratiques de protection « physique » et relevant de l’ingénierie, comme les mesures législatives contrôlant l’aménagement du territoire et la planification urbaine.

Malta

Prevenzjoni: tfisser kwalunkwe azzjoni mmirata biex tnaqqas ir-riskji jew ittaffi l-konsegwenzi avversi ta' diżastru għall-persuni, l-ambjent u l-proprjetà, inkluż il-wirt kulturali.

Netherlands

Prevention is to obstruct an incident to occur.

Preventie is het voorkomen van een incident.

Preventie: elke actie gericht op het verminderen van risico's of het verzachten van de nadelige gevolgen van een ramp voor mensen, het milieu en eigendommen, waaronder cultureel erfgoed.

Peru

Prevención: Acciones que se orientan a evitar la generación de nuevos riesgos en la sociedad y a reducir las vulnerabilidades y riesgos existentes en el contexto de la gestión del desarrollo sostenible.

Poland

Zapobieganie: oznacza wszelkie działania służące ograniczaniu ryzyka lub łagodzeniu negatywnych następstw klęsk lub katastrof dla ludzi, środowiska naturalnego oraz mienia, w tym dziedzictwa kulturowego.

Portugal

Prevenção: qualquer ação que tenha em vista reduzir os riscos ou minorar as consequências adversas das catástrofes para as pessoas, o ambiente e os bens, incluindo o património cultural.

Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

The outright avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters.

Romania

Prevenire:
(1) acţiunea de a preîntâmpina săvârşirea de infracţiuni, pe mai multe căi (educaţie, cunoaşterea legilor etc.). Un rol important îl are descoperirea la timp a infracţiunilor şi tragerea la răspundere penală a celor vinovaţi de comiterea lor. Scopul pedepsei este şi prevenirea săvârşirii de noi infracţiuni;
(2) ansamblu de acţiuni destinate a furniza o protecţie permanentă împotriva dezastrelor.

Prevenire: înseamnă orice acțiune care are drept scop reducerea riscurilor sau atenuarea consecințelor adverse ale unui dezastru asupra persoanelor, a mediului și a bunurilor materiale, inclusiv asupra patrimoniului cultural.

Saint Lucia

Prevention: Activities to provide outright avoidance of the adverse impact of hazards and means to minimize related environmental, technological and biological disasters. Depending on social and technical feasibility and cost/benefit considerations, investing in preventive measures is justified in areas frequently affected by disasters.

In the context of public awareness and education, related to disaster risk reduction changing attitudes and behaviour contribute to promoting a "culture of prevention". (ISDR)

Prevention: Measures taken for the purpose of preventing natural or man-caused phenomena from causing or giving rise to disasters or other emergency situations.

Slovakia

Prevencia: je akékoľvek opatrenie zamerané na zníženie rizika alebo zmierňovanie nepriaznivých následkov katastrof pre ľudí, životné prostredie a majetok vrátane kultúrneho dedičstva.

Slovenia

Preventiva: pomeni vsako dejanje, namenjeno zmanjševanju tveganj ali ublažitvi škodljivih posledic nesreče za ljudi, okolje in premoženje, vključno s kulturno dediščino.

Spain

Prevención: toda actuación encaminada a reducir los riesgos o a mitigar las consecuencias adversas de una catástrofe para las personas, el medio ambiente y los bienes, incluido el patrimonio cultural.

Sweden

Förebyggande: alla åtgärder som syftar till att minska risker för eller lindra negativa konsekvenser av en katastrof för människor, miljö och egendom, inklusive kulturarvet.

Switzerland

Die Prävention ist eine Phase im integralen Risikomanagement im Bevölkerungsschutz und umfasst Massnahmen, damit Gefährdungen gar nicht entstehen oder sich nur begrenzt auswirken können.

Phase de la gestion intégrale des risques englobant l'ensemble des mesures destinées à réduire la vulnérabilité; c’est-à-dire d’éviter les dangers ou en tout cas d’en diminuer les effets.

Fase del ciclo di gestione integrale dei rischi nell’ambito della protezione della popolazione che comprende le misure volte a evitare l’insorgere dei pericoli o a limitarne gli effetti.

United Kingdom

Prevention means any action aimed at reducing risks or mitigating adverse consequences of a disaster for people, the environment and property, including cultural heritage.

Tanzania

Prevention: Measures aimed at stopping a disaster from occurring and/or preventing such occurrence having harmful effects on communities (or groups of individuals) such as vaccination programmes by the health sector.

United States

DHS

The term "prevention" refers to

those capabilities necessary to avoid, prevent, or stop a threatened or actual act of terrorism. Prevention capabilities include, but are not limited to, information sharing and warning; domestic counterterrorism; and preventing the acquisition or use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). For purposes of the prevention framework called for in this directive, the term "prevention" refers to preventing imminent threats.

NIMS

Actions to avoid an incident or to intervene to stop an incident from occurring.

Prevention involves actions to protect lives and property.

NFPA-1600

Activities to avoid an incident or to stop an incident from occurring.

Other Definitions

Ontario (Canada)

Prevention is defined as actions taken to stop an emergency or disaster from occurring.

Such actions may include legislative controls, zoning restrictions, improved operating standards/procedures or critical infrastructure management.

Prévention: mesures prises afin d’empêcher la survenance d’une situation d’urgence ou d’un sinistre.

Ces mesures peuvent inclure des contrôles législatifs, des restrictions en matière de zonage, des normes et procédures de fonctionnement améliorées ou la gestion de l’infrastructure essentielle.

Standard Definition

ISO/PAS 22399:2007

Measures that enable an organization to avoid, preclude, or limit the impact of a disruption.

See also

• Mitigation