Survival Saturday

Hurricane Sandy’s immediate and continuing devastation compelled me to scrounge the bookcase for my survival guide—National Geographic: Complete Survival Manual by Michael S. Sweeny. It’s a comprehensive guide for surviving just about anything.

Being a resident of California—you know where I looked first—Earthquakes! Everyone says we are due.

In the movie Independence Day, they poke fun of a typical Californian response and a cheese commercial has cows equating a tremor with a foot massage.

All fun aside, I know my family isn’t prepared!

The guidebook says to have a plan inside the home—drop and cover—stay away from windows, and anything that can fall on you (chandeliers, mirrors, paintings, pots, lights etc)

If you’re in bed, put the pillow over your face and hold on to the mattress!

Chances are my nightmare—hope it’s not yours—of driving off the edge into a miles deep fissure on the freeway, isn’t going to happen.

What is more likely to happen is being injured by falling debris or covered by wreckage. Here’s what Complete Survival Manual (page 329) suggests:

Cover mouth with a cloth
Control heavy bleeding if possible
Signal your presence by finding something to tap/bang against
Whistle—the kind of whistle dads use to get their children’s attention ( I can’t do this)
Don’t cry for help unless you hear someone nearby. Use your energy wisely!
Move as little as possible—kicking at stuff may shift more debris onto you.
Find a light (duh, no matches) and might be another reason why we should carry our phones at all times. (Maybe teenagers know something we don’t)

Californians know aftershocks can be just as scary-shaky.

This Saturday, I’m going to purchase water and give my hubby a honey-do list: Prepare Emergency Kit.