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Earthquake Preparedness
Earthquake Preparedness
You can never tell when there will be an earthquake, but you can take steps to reduce or avoid damage, injuries, or loss of life for the children in your care, your staff, and yourself.
Preparing for an earthquake includes things you already do to protect yourself and everyone safety and health, such as having a fire extinguisher handy and maintaining your certifications
for first aid and CPR.
An earthquake is a sudden and rapid shaking of the ground caused by the shifting of rocks deep underneath the earth’s surface. Earthquakes can happen without warning and result in injuries and damage to property and roads. Earthquakes can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides, or avalanches.
If an earthquake happens, protect yourself right away.
If you are in a vehicle, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings.
Do not get in a doorway.
Do not run outside.
Remember
It’s not the Earth’s shaking itself that causes the most injury and harm. Instead, it’s the things that the earthquake puts into motion: the shaking of buildings, structures, and even ordinary household items. Anything that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire can be an earthquake hazard.
Keep Yourself Safe After an Earthquake
If an earthquake has just happened, there can be serious hazards such as damage to the building, leaking gas and water lines, or downed power lines.
Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake.
Check yourself to see if you are hurt and help others if you have training. Learn how to be the help until help arrives.
If you are in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building. Do not enter damaged buildings.
If you are trapped, protect your mouth, nose, and eyes from dust. Send a text, bang on a pipe or wall, or use a whistle instead of shouting to help rescuers locate you.
If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, go inland or to higher ground immediately after the shaking stops.
Text messages may be more reliable than phone calls. Save phone calls for emergencies.
Once you are safe, listen to local news reports for emergency information and instructions via battery operated radio, TV, social media, or from cell phone text alerts.
Be careful during post-disaster cleanup of buildings and around debris. Do not attempt to remove heavy debris by yourself. Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves, and sturdy, thick-soled shoes during cleanup.
Credit to: https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes
