Duck, Cover and Hold… (on for as long as it takes!)

Anchorage, Alaska, 5:36 PM on March 27, 1964, temperature 28° F. A fault 100 miles east of Anchorage ruptures, producing a 9.2 earthquake. The ground shaking during the primary event lasts 5 minutes, with residual secondary seismicity and ground acceleration lasting for up to 14 minutes.

Southern California. 2:00 PM, anytime in the immediate future, temperature...probably balmy. A rupture on the southern "notch" segment of the San Andreas Fault produces a 7.8 earthquake. Ground acceleration and shaking are estimated to last up to 7 minutes.

These two events, one real, the second hypothetical but highly probable, illustrate how long violent shaking can last during a major or "great" earthquake. The temblor we experienced on July 29th of this year produced moderate shaking that lasted 12-14 seconds. So…for how long did you duck, cover and hold?

As Vince Lombardi said, "you play like you practice." Knowing about what can happen in any area regarding natural disasters ("maintaining situational awareness") can mean the difference between life and death. If you duck, cover, and hold, count to ten, and then resume your daily chores, you haven't adequately prepared for what could happen here in Southern California when a major earthquake occurs… and the secondary hazards in your workspace or Office begin to chase you! Prepare your office, classroom or workspace by moving heavy objects below head height, securing printers, computers, and other Office furniture to desks, walls, or each other so they are less likely to topple over, prepare and refresh regularly a personal disaster kit, ensure that you can get completely under your desk or workstation, and hang on for at least 5 minutes.

For more information of earthquake preparedness, and the upcoming Golden Guardian/Great Southern California Shakeout, check out the following urls:

• USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
• The Governeor's Office of Emergency Services
• American Red Cross - Greater Long Beach Area

Protect Yourself from Seasonal Illness

As we enter yet another cold and flu season, it bears repeating that the best way to cure these types of illnesses is to prevent them! Recent news coverage regarding a norovirus outbreak at a local university, our continuing vigilance relative to pandemic influenza, and the inevitable cold and fl u outbreaks are all reasons to keep our guard up. Norovirus is the agent that causes "stomach flu", and in fact is not the fl u. Influenza is a disease of the upper respiratory system, while norovirus affects the body's gastrointestinal system. It is very contagious and causes nausea and diarrhea, and usually self-resolves over the course of 24 to 48 hours. The best approach to staying well this season is to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and other public health agencies... by washing your hands!

Although colds, flu and upper respiratory viral infections will never be completely preventable, we can reduce the rate of illness, and the severity of those illnesses with some simple things we do daily! The following recommendations are encouraged by the CDC and the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands after using the restroom, or after coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds using soap and warm to very warm water. Leave the faucet running while you dry your hands with a paper towel, and then use the towel to turn off the faucet and open the door to the restroom. Discard the towel in a proper waste receptacle.
• If you cannot immediately wash your hands with soap and water, use an alcohol based hand cleaner. Make sure that the product has a moisturizer in the formula. Please note that use of alcohol hand cleaners is not a substitute for washing with soap and water.
• If you do become ill, stay home until you recover.

Remember... stay healthy by:

• Getting enough rest
• Exercise regularly
• Eat a balanced diet
• Use alcohol and caffeine in moderation