TMCnet News
Yuma County participates in ShakeOut 2011Oct 21, 2011 (The Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- When an earthquake strikes, the key to survival is preparedness. So with that in mind, the Yuma County Public Health Services District and Yuma County Office of Emergency Management decided, along with several area schools and businesses, to join millions of residents in western states to perform earthquake preparedness drills at exactly 10:20 a.m. Thursday during ShakeOut 2011. "Last year, John Alden at Health Services gave us the idea and we worked closely together to sign up some schools for the event. So this year we decided to include county workers as well," said Gretchen Robinson, Yuma County emergency management director. "(ShakeOut 2011) stimulates people to start thinking about where are the exits, how do you get out and the things you are supposed to do during an earthquake." The purpose of the ShakeOut, which originated in California three years ago, is to ensure residents understand the drop, cover and hold on procedure so they can be prepared when the next major earthquake strikes. At Health Services, employees dropped, covered and held on to desks and tables as they practiced the 60-second drill. "In the departments where it was safe to do so, employees climbed under their desks to remind them of what to do when an earthquake occurs," said John Alden, public health emergency preparedness program manager. "For the other departments where we had large waiting rooms of clients, it was kind of a moment of teaching about earthquake safety since we didn't want any clients to get hurt." Both Robinson and Alden said the county will participate in the event next year when it is held on the third Thursday in October. For more information on earthquake safety, visit ShakeOut.org. -- ** What to do and not do in an earthquake: What To Do: When an earthquake strikes, you should immediately: --Drop to the ground. --Cover by getting under a desk or table. --Hold on to it until the shaking stops. The purpose of the drill is to remain where you are and try to protect yourself as best as you possibly can. Studies of earthquake deaths and injuries indicate that you are much more likely to be injured by falling objects than to die in a collapsed building. Drop, cover and hold on offers the best level of protection in most situations. What Not To Do: --DO NOT get in a doorway. An early earthquake image from California is a collapsed home with only the door frame standing. This is where the belief originated that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake. In modern houses and buildings, doorways are no safer, and they do not protect you from flying or falling objects. --DO NOT run outside. Trying to run in an earthquake is dangerous, as the ground is moving and you can easily fall or be injured by debris or glass. Running outside is especially dangerous, as glass, bricks, or other building components may be falling. You are much safer to stay inside and get under a table. --DO NOT believe the so-called "triangle of life." In recent years, an email has circulated which has recommended potentially life-threatening actions, and the source has been discredited by leading experts. -- Information provided by Yuma County ___ (c)2011 The Sun (Yuma, Ariz.) Visit The Sun (Yuma, Ariz.) at www.yumasun.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |