California ShakeOut reminds students to be prepared
This previous Thursday, there was a earthquake preparation drill for all of the students on campus at 10:10 a.m.
The drill mainly focused on the procedure of “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”, one of the agreed upon techniques to be safe in a earthquake, according to emergency managers, researchers and school safety advocates.
Formally known as “The Great California Shakeout”, it covers all the concerns people might have about what to do if there is an earthquake.
Although earthquakes have happened in the past, what could we do if in the future there was a more destructive type of earthquake that could cause substantial damage?
If an earthquake were to happen, there are several things you could do to prevent yourself from being hurt.
The most common safety procedure is the “Drop, Cover, And Hold On” which is basically crawling under a desk or piece of furniture to protect yourself from falling objects.
“Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is when you get under your structure, such as a desk, cover your head and neck and hold onto to the structure as well.
During an earthquake it can be impossible to walk or run, and most people will fall so the safest place to be is already on the ground.
Being under a desk will enhance your chances of staying safe and has been known to protect people from severe damage during an earthquake, according to the emergency managers, researchers, and school safety advocates.
If it is impossible to find a desk or piece of furniture, stay inside and close to interior walls because exterior walls and windows tend to collapse in a destructive earthquake.
While “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is a great safety measure all people can do, there are some that are not so safe and are actually a myth.
The “triangle of life” is the belief that it is safe to be next to a structure instead of underneath it.
The problem with the “triangle of life” is that it is based on poorly made assumptions, according to earthquake safety specialists.
The assumptions are based on anticipating the ways a building can collapse, which is almost impossible to foresee.
In an earthquake, it is not always an easy task to protect yourself from injury. Programs like “The Great California Shakeout” is a way to teach students to react quickly during the event of an earthquake.