Heres the last installation of how your family should prepare for an earthquake - what to do if when it is happening and after. I know its an awful prospect, but if like me, you’ve been through one, it really does make sense to give preparation and planning some thought.

In a nutshell, when there is an earthquake happening, if there is only one rule to remember its to TAKE COVER AND STAY THERE.

1. If you’re inside your home, stay there. Get out of the kitchen… safer places are inside halls, in corners, in archways. Take cover under a heavy table, desk or any solid furniture that you can get under and hold onto. Protect your head and face. Doors may slam on your fingers if you’re in a doorway. Avoid areas near windows.

2. If you’re in a yard outside your home, stay there and get clear of buildings and wires that could fall on you.

3. Don’t go outside where you may be hit by falling debris… sidewalks next to tall buildings are particularly dangerous.

4. Avoid elevators… if you’re in an elevator when an earthquake happens, hit all floor buttons and get out when you can. High rise residents will hear fire alarms go off and electricity may fail.

5. If you’re in a vehicle, pull over to the side (leave the road clear), away from bridges, overpasses and buildings. Stay in your vehicle.

6. If you’re in a crowded public place, take cover and watch that you don’t get trampled. In shopping centres, take cover in the nearest store and keep away from windows, skylights and display shelves of heavy objects.

7. Remain in a protected place until the shaking stops. Anticipate aftershocks… they may occur soon after the first quake.

8. Try to remain calm and help others.

After the earthquake

Preparations for an earthquake also include knowing what to do, and not to do, after the shaking stops… when there is danger from after shocks, fires, falling building materials, debris, etc. Remain calm. You may have to take charge of others. Take care of life-threatening situations first. Remember, you may be on your own for 72 hours or more.

1. Check your home for structural damage and other hazards.

2. Check yourself and others nearby for injuries… administer first aid quickly and carefully.

3. If you are evacuating, locate and take your pack of emergency supplies with you.

4. Use a flashlight to check utilities and do not shut them off unless damaged. Leaking gas will smell. Don’t light matches or turn on light switches… until you are sure there are no gas leaks or flammable liquids.

5. Wear sturdy shoes, gloves and protective clothing if it’s winter and/or if there’s debris, particularly broken glass.

6. Check your neighbors after looking after your own family. Your first help after an earthquake usually will come from family and friends.

7. Confine frightened pets.

8. Don’t flush toilets if you suspect nearby sewer lines are broken.

9. Secure your home against intruders.

10. Turn on your battery-powered radio (or car radio) and listen for broadcast emergency instructions.

11. Don’t use your telephone, except in an extreme (life-threatening) emergency.

12. Stay at least ten metres from downed power lines.

13. Avoid waterfront areas because of the threat of large waves (tsunamis).

Planning for earthquakes will also help prepare you for many other emergencies.

Be prepared, not scared!

[tags]Earthquake,Earthquake Tips,Keeping safe,disaster preparation[/tags]

You may think it is an unlikely event, but as with fires, its is always better to be prepared. An earthquake is not something you can prevent, but if you know what to expect and what do do in the unlikely event that it happens, it can make you feel a little less vulnerable.

1. Know the safe and dangerous places in your home.

Safe: Under heavy tables or desks; inside hallways; corners of rooms or archways.

Dangerous: Near windows or mirrors; under any objects that can fall; the kitchen… where the stove, refrigerator or contents of cupboards may move violently; doorways, because the shaking may slam the door on you. Practice taking cover.

2. Train members of your family to use fire extinguishers.

3. Chech if your home has Earthquake insurance coverage. Get some if if you live in a high-risk area.

4. Plan and practice evacuation.

5. Talk to your children about what to do if they’re at home, at school, if the quake separates your family. Become familiar with the school’s earthquake plan.

6. Plan!
Arrange an out-of-the-area contact. Each family member should carry the contact phone number and address. Have an alternative family rendezvous if you can’t get home.

7. Remind your family to rely on emergency authorities for guidance. Broadcast reports on radio and television will have instructions.

8. Also remind your family members that emergency phone numbers are in the inside cover of the telephone book. But use them only in an extreme emergency. Your telephone may not work after an earthquake, or it may take a while to get a dial tone.

9. Make sure each family member knows how to shut off the utilities gas, electricity and water. (Don’t shut off the gas unless there is a leak or a fire. If the gas is turned off, don’t turn it on again… that must be done by a qualified technician).

10. Your plan should include a list of where emergency supplies and equipment are stored.

[tags]Earthquake,Earthquake Tips,Keeping safe,disaster preparation[/tags]

A couple of weeks ago, there was an earthquake where we live. It was a 5.6 on the Richter Scale and lasted for only about 5 seconds, but it was terrifying still. It was about 10 pm and I was in bed, chatting with my husband who was working on the computer. Suddenly, the bed began to shake, like one of the kids were jumping on it, and our ceiling lamps started swinging - and my husband looked at me with a look of sheer panic on his face. It happened three times that night, but thankfully I was asleep for the last two.

Well, like I said, it was over before we knew it, but awful nontheless. A couple of years ago, there was an even stronger one which lasted for about 30 seconds, which in earthquake time is an eternity. I was pregnant with my son at the time, and I remember grabbing my daughter, who was around 2 then, and running down the stairs to my husband, who was in the study. Luckily, we were all ok, and our house survived as well. But since then, I’ve learned a thing or two about earthquakes: and running down the stairs is something you should NEVER do. Oh dear.

I don’t want to scare you, but earthquakes are happening all over the world, and some hotspot places include Italy, Alaska, British Columbia, California, Indonesia etc - to find out more, go to this Earthquake Locator site) so if you live in an area which may be susceptible, please be PREPARED.

My next post will have some great preparation tips to keep your family SAFE.

[tags]Earthquake,Earthquake Tips,Keeping safe,disaster preparation[/tags]

What is it about colds? One person has it, and then it spreads like wildfire. About the same time my kids got their cold, so did my sister. She believes the culprit was in the playplace she took them to last week, somewhere hidden behind the colourful slides and padded floors. Funny though, as the place makes you put on antibacterial gel before and after playing. Hmmmm…. But now that I think of it, Dr.J (our pedia) told me some time ago that those gels DO NOT work. Well, maybe just a bit, but she advised that ordinary rubbing alcohol did the job (in killing germs) about 100 x better!

Unfortunately, the cold virus hit hmy sister much worse than my kids - and she still has the sniffles today. My kids are now germ-free, thanks to Mom’s Home Remedies (I told you they really work).

Which is why I want to keep them that way (healthy, that is) as we are all going to Thailand soon for a family holiday. So here is something that went into my inbox today care of Baby Center, which couldn’t have come at a more useful time. It agrees with my advocacy of Vitamin C, but also gives some other tips on staying-germ free:

Question: How can I keep from catching my child’s cold?

Answer: “Colds” are upper respiratory infections caused by many different viruses. These viruses can be spread in the air by sneezing or coughing and by contact with infected surfaces. Therefore, good hand washing — with soap and warm water — is always encouraged both for children and adult caretakers.

Wash your hands before preparing or eating food, after changing any diapers, and after using the toilet. And help your toddler wash his hands after using the toilet and before eating. Antibiotic wipes can be used for surfaces children commonly touch. (Some grocery stores now offer antibiotic wipes to clean handles of grocery carts before using the cart.) It also helps to not share cups and utensils with your toddler, especially during “cold” seasons. (You might use disposable cups in your bathrooms.)

Some people promote the use of 500-1000 mg of Vitamin C, as well as echinacea and zinc (check the recommended dosages on the bottles) at the onset of upper respiratory symptoms, to help shorten the length and severity of symptoms; it’s worth a try if you do seem to be catching your toddler’s cold.

[tags]Kids,Germs, Cold Virus, Kids Health[/tags]

The picture above is what my daughter is wearing tonight, and its the exact pic on the packaging of the costume too, which is why I just had to post it! Isn’t it adorable? My toddler boy, by the way, is Thomas the Tank Engine (his idol), which is also too adorable for words.

Anyway, as we all know, tonight is the long awaited Hallow’s Eve, which means, trick or treating!!! As I’ve already posted of safety tips for pets, here’s what we should be aware of for our kids, which I will be explaining to my daughter too. Its never to young to learn to be a responsible Trick-or-Treater!! This one is from a website aptly called Halloween Safety.

1. Children should go out during daylight hours only unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

2. Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their return home. Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves.

3. Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields. Make sure they know to stay in populated places and don’t go off the beaten track. Stay in well lighted areas.

3. Stop only at familiar houses in your own neighborhood unless they are accompanied by an adult.

4. Small children should never be allowed to go out alone on Halloween. Make sure an older sibling or adult is with them.

5. Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.

6. Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car.

7. Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.

8. Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult.

[tags]Halloween, Safety tips,Trick or Treating, Kids safety,Toy Story 2[/tags]