Earthquake take precautions

You can never tell when there will be an earthquake, but you can take steps to reduce damage, injuries, or loss of life .Preparing for an earthquake includes things you already do for safety and health, such as having a fire extinguisher handy and maintaining your first aid and CPR. With additional planning and preparation, have a better chance at surviving an earthquake unharmed.

Make your building more earthquake-proof, include earthquake preparedness in your emergency plans, teach what to do if an earthquake happens,and keep emergency supplies on hand.In an earthquake, most injuries and deaths are caused by loose objects in and on buildings. During the shaking,cabinets and bookcases topple, objects fall out of cabinets,and hanging or large plants fall. Door frames and window jams may be bent when walls move. Doors may slam orjam shut, and window glass can shatter, sending brokenglass into the room. Light fixtures, sprinkler heads, and It’s not the Earth’s shaking itself that causes the most injury andharm. Instead, it’s the things that the earthquake puts into motion: the shaking of buildings,structures, and even ordinary household items. Anything thatcan move, fall, break, or cause afire can be an earthquake hazard.
Ceiling components may pop out and fall. Objects mounted on the walls (such as clocks, maps, and art work) may shake loose and fly across theroom. The electricity may go out, and the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.


Go through your home or facility, room by room, looking for objects or situations that might cause damage or Brackets along injury. Make an inventory of all items that require attention.
Walk the halls Stand in the center of each room and look all around you: imagine which objects or Interior pieces of furniture might fall over or fly through the air. Make your facility more earthquake-proof.Remove, move, fasten, or latch items that are likely tobreak, fall over, cause a fire, or hurt people.



Move heavy objects to lower shelves.
If heavy objects can’t be moved, attach them to the desk or table they are sitting on with a heavy-duty hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro. If necessary, add lips tos helves to keep items from sliding off.

Make sure hallways and exits are clear of objects that might fall and make it difficultto get out of the building.
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Brace overhead light fixtures.
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Install latches on cabinet doors.
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Move beds and cribs away from windows, and lock their wheels if possible.
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Move heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from sleeping and sitting areas.
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Lock wheels on rolling carts, such as a TV cart.
Have a professional help you with the following:
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Repair any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations.
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Repair or replace defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.*
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Replace inflexible utility connections with flexible ones.** Do not repair gas or electrical lines yourself.

Know how to shut off electricity, gas, and water
You may need to turn off the electricity, gas, or water after an earthquake because of broken or exposed electrical wiring, a gas leak, or flooding from leaking pipes or sprinklers. Locate the gasand water “shut-off” valves and master electrical switch. Learn how to turn these off and train your staff to do so. Make sure you have a crescent or pipe wrench near the gas and water valves and in your emergency supplies.


Have a communication plan for disasters

Just as you conduct drills for other types of emergencies (fires or tornadoes), you should conduct earthquake drills. (Ask your local office of emergency services or your Red Cross office for are commendation on how frequently you should conduct earthquake drills in your area.)
Identify a safe gathering place outside.
Find a safe spot outside.This spot should be away from the building,trees, playground structures, fences, utility wires, or anything else that might fall on you. Make this your designated gathering place in case of an earthquake or other disaster. Ensure that all children and staff know where to go if you need to leave the building in an emergency.

During an earthquake, the most important thing for any child oradult to remember is to Drop, Cover , and Hold.At the first sign of shaking
Drop to the ground.Take Cover
by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture.
Hold on until the shaking stops.
Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold in earthquake drills.

T
Safety Chant
• against an inside wall, away from windows, mirrors,
“If inside, drop, cover, and
pictures, bookcases, or other heavy objects that might fall.
hold. That’s where you’ll be safe. If outside, stay outside,

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1. Once the shaking has stopped, l
ook around for possible hazards to determine if it is safefor you to move before getting up and helping others.
If time permits and there is a small fire that can be put out with the fire extinguisher, do that.2. If you are inside, decide whether to evacuate or stay put.
• Any of the following require immediate evacuation: fire, damage to structure, a gas leak,or hazardous materials spill. In some situations, you may choose not to evacuate or todelay evacuation. For example, if there is a slight shaking with no apparent damage andanother hazard such as severe weather, it may be more dangerous to move children outside.• If you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing noise,open a window and then quickly leave with thechildren, and shut the gas off at the outside If you shut off the gas for any main meter.