Red Cross Societies around the world, including the Canadian Red Cross,
are exploring ways in which social media can affect the efficiency of a
disaster response.
To improve its understanding of social media, the Canadian Red Cross
commissioned Ipsos Reid, a leading polling agency, to conduct a survey
to explore how Canadians use social media and mobile technology during
emergencies—and their expectations around the use of social media by
emergency responders.
The survey — the first of its kind in Canada — reached 1,000 people from
across the country online and by phone between June 19 and July 4, 2012.
This report provides an overview of key survey findings, including:
• More than 60 per cent ofrespondents use social media networks on a
regular basis
• Sixty-sixper centofCanadianshaven’ttakensteps topreparefordisasters
• About one in three respondents thinks that posting a callfor help on
social media would result in assistance from emergency services
This report also includes case studies to illustrate some innovative ways
in which social media has been used as a tool to both communicate and
gather information during emergencies in Canada and around the world.