Valley-Wide Health Systems will join the millions of people, schools, and organizations worldwide who will participate in earthquake drills as part of the Great Shakeout on Thursday, October 16.
Do you know what to do in case of an earth quake?
Federal, state, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that:
“Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes.
Even though we may not have major earthquakes in Colorado you might be somewhere where they do have earthquakes.
First you need to Protect Yourself!
What to Do:
The internationally recognized “Drop, Cover and Hold’ protocol protects lives.
- Drop to the ground
- Take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table
- Hold on to it until the shaking stops
- If there is not a desk or sturdy table near you, drop to the ground in an inside corner of the building, cover your head and arms and be in a crawling position to protect your vital organs.
- If you are unable to drop, cover and hold-get as low as possible and move away from windows.
- If you are outdoors move to a clear area to avoid power lines, trees signs, buildings, vehicles and other hazards.
- If you are driving-pull over to the side of the road, stop and set the parking brake. Stay inside your vehicles until the shaking is over.
What Not to DO:
- Do not get in a doorway, they do not protect you from flying or falling objects
- Do not run outside, as the ground is moving and you can easily fall or be injured by debris or glass
- Do not use elevators
