Drop, Cover and Hold On!

With the recent 3.8 and 3.2 earthquakes shaking things up a bit in Southern California,  it's a good idea to review what OFFICIAL RESCUE TEAMS from the U.S. and other countries who have searched for trapped people in collapsed structures around the world, as well as emergency managers, researchers, and school safety advocates, all agree on.   "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes.

In MOST situations, you will reduce your chance of injury if you:

• DROP down onto your hands and knees (before the earthquakes knocks you down). This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.
• COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, only then should you get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
• HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

In addition to utilizing these safety actions,  it is beneficial to know  BLS (Basic Life Support), First Aid and CPR to treat victims who may have obtained injuries during a natural disaster such as an earthquake.  HealthPro offers these life saving classes and more at our convenient location by the 15 and 91 fwy. Check out our class schedule at hpec.org or call 951-279-6110.