The Great California ShakeOut is Thursday, October 20, 2022, at 10:20 a.m. Every year, Californians practice earthquake safety like drop, cover, and hold on the third Thursday of October, and San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) will be participating again this year.
“Earthquakes can happen at any time. That’s why it’s important to know how to react at home, at school, and at work,” said SBCUSD Safety and Emergency Manager Eric Vetere. “The Great ShakeOut gives us all a friendly reminder to brush up on our earthquake safety and response.”
On October 20, students, teachers, and all SBCUSD staff members, as well as school visitors, will be asked to participate in the Great California ShakeOut. In anticipation of the event and in the name of earthquake preparedness, the District encourages schools and families to set aside time to review earthquake safety protocols:
- Before an earthquake happens, identify safe areas in your home, school or office to protect yourself from earthquakes.
- DROP onto your hands and knees when the shaking starts. This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to nearby cover.
- COVER your head and neck with tables, chairs, or one arm and hand. You can also hold a sturdy object over your head and neck for protection.
- Try to crawl away from windows.
- If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl under it.
- Stay on your knees and bend over to protect vital organs.
- Keep your eyes shut to protect them from dust and debris.
- HOLD ON until the shaking stops and be ready to evacuate.
People with mobility concerns should practice these alternatives:
- LOCK your wheelchair, walker, or other mobility assistance device.
- Try to move away from windows first if possible.
- Get close to an interior wall.
- COVER your head and neck with your arms and hands or hold a sturdy object over your head and neck for protection.
- If you can’t fully lift your arms to cover your head, do the best you can to cover as much as you can.
- Bend over to protect your vital organs.
- Keep your eyes shut to protect them from dust and debris.
- HOLD ON until the shaking stops and be ready to evacuate.
Additional information and resources are available at https://www.shakeout.org/california/.
Families are also encouraged to:
- Download the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety, which is available in several languages.
- Sign up for ParentSquare to receive vital information about SBCUSD students if an emergency strikes during the school day.
- Review family emergency preparedness plans.
- Practice evacuation procedures throughout the month of October.
Families can learn more about ParentSquare, SBCUSD’s all-in-one communications tool, by completing the Parent 101 online, self-paced training module.
Families can download the free FEMA mobile app at https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/app to get real-time weather alerts, preparedness tips for more than 20 types of emergencies, and more.
Original source can be found here.
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