Earthquake Safety

Earthquake hazard is the unavoidable risk that an earthquake will disrupt daily activities or cause loss of property or life. The image below from the US Geological Survey, illustrate the areas within the United States with the highest to lowest earthquake hazard. An earthquake happens when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one another. The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault plane. Most damage associated with earthquakes is caused by waves generated during the earthquake.

California is the area of the United States that has the most earthquakes. However, the strongest earthquakes recorded in the continental US were not in the West; they were centered in eastern Missouri near the border with Kentucky and Tennessee. In the winter of 1811-1812, a series of three earthquakes of magnitudes 8.4 to 8.7 and maximum intensities of XI occurred near New Madrid, Missouri. Although the risk for an earthquake may be low or high, dependent on your area, it is still important to be prepared.

What can you expect to happen in your house if an earthquake occurs?

Shaking can make light fixtures fall, refrigerators and other large items move across the floor, and bookcases and television sets topple over. Look around your house for things that could fall or move.

Ask yourself if your kitchen cabinet doors could fly open and allow dishes to shatter on the floor.

Is your TV and other electronics fastened down and are shelves fastened to wall? Do you have hanging plants or light fixtures that might fall? Is there a heavy picture or mirror on the wall over your bed?

How can you prepare yourself for an earthquake?

· Identify the things in your house or work place that are unsecured. Items such as televisions, computers, bookcases, cabinet doors and furniture and be secured to help prevent injuries

· As with any emergency, make sure you have a plan in place. Make sure your emergency plan includes evacuation and reunion plans, emergency contacts and emergency supplies

· Make a disaster kit. Disaster kits should include nonperishable food, water, flashlights, portable radios, batteries, a first aid kit and cash

· Determine the structural integrity of your home. You may need to consider consulting a contractor to help identify problems such as inadequate foundations, unbraced walls, unreinforced masonry and vulnerable pipes.

· Learn what to do in an earthquake. “Drop, Cover and Hold On” can help save lives and reduce injury or death. During an earthquake, drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk or table and hold onto it firmly.



For more emergency safety tips and online safety training courses, you may be interested in the SafetySkills Basic First Aid course, Emergency Action Plans for Office Employees course, Emergency Response course and the Severe Weather and Outdoor Work course.

                                         

For more information about SafetySkills and online safety training courses and plans available, please visit http://safetyskills.com.

Emergency Preparedness Week

The National Safety Council (NSC), announced that this week, June 16 - 22, is Emergency Preparedness Week as part of their National Safety Month. This week focuses on encouraging safe behaviors to prevent injuries and deaths in an emergency. Emergencies can include fires, natural disasters and terrorist hazards.

The NSC recommends that families have a plan in case of an emergency and practice it at least twice a year. A survival kit is also an important factor in any emergency plan. Emergency preparedness kit should include:

• One gallon of water per person, per day for three days
• Three days worth of non perishable food and a can opener
• Battery powered radio
• First aid kit
• Tool kit
• Moist towelettes and garbage bags for sanitation
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Cell phone and portable charger

To be better prepared for emergencies, find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area and how you will be notified. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts. You might hear a special siren, or get a telephone call, or emergency workers may go door-to-door. Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) send free informational text messages to WEA-enabled cell phones within range of an imminent and dangerous local situation, severe weather event, or AMBER emergency. You do not need to register to receive WEA notifications. You will automatically receive alerts if you have WEA-capable phone and your wireless carrier participates in the program. To find out if your mobile device is capable of receiving WEA alerts, contact your mobile device carrier or visit CTIA The Wireless Association.

Another good way to be prepared is to think about where you and your family frequent and check with the locations about their site-specific emergency plans. If none are in place, consider volunteering to assist in developing one. If you think ahead of a crisis, you will be better prepared to reunited with your family.

If you are an employer, make sure that your workplace has a building evacuation plan and make sure this plan is practiced regularly. If there isn't a plan in place, visit ready.gov/business for more information on how to develop one. The SafetySkills online safety training course, Emergency Action Plans for Office Employees can provide employees with the knowledge and skills needed to understand emergency action plans and some protective actions that can be taken in different types of emergencies. Other helpful courses for workplace safety include, Fire Safety, Emergency Response, Basic First Aid and Severe Weather and Outdoor Work.

For more information about all of the SafetySkills online safety training courses, please visit us at SafetySkills.com.