8. SAFE DRINKING WATER
Water is the most important item to store in preparation for an
earthquake. Loss of safe drinking water can be deadly. Most
people, with few exceptions, will die if they do without water for
more than 36 hours. Dehydration occurs much quicker than
starvation. Our bodies can tolerate the lack of food much better.
With an ample water supply, starvation takes many days, even weeks.
The City water supply is vulnerable to the effects of a large
quake. Contaminants can get into the drinking water supply through
ruptures in pipes, through the mixing up of sediments, through the
adulteration of filtering systems, etc. Now, we take our water for
granted. That will be dangerous after a big quake.
Now that you know you need to store water; how much should you
store? A good rule to follow is about 1 gallon per person per day
of clean drinking water. (Some families will want to consider their
pets as a person for these purposes.)
Some sources of drinking water are:
1. Stored bottled water (water can be stored in used bleach
containers. Rinse them well first. Water stored in this way will
last six months to a year and then should be replaced. To store:
Rinse container and, fill with fresh tap water. Add 8 (for clear)
or 16 (for cloudy) drops of new chlorine bleach per gallon).
2. Bottled water can be purchased at the market. Water in bottles
filled and sealed at the factory will last indefinitely, however,
the plastic will break down through exposure to the air or sunlight
within about 6 months to a year. Note: Many discount stores
(COSTCO, Price Club, etc.) sell sparklets or other water in 5
gallon 'boxes' - each box having 2 2.5 gallon plastic bottles.
These are easy to store and priced very reasonably.
3. The hot water heater storage tank... To get water out of the
hot water heater it is necessary to turn off the cold water supply
to the hot water heater (this prevents contaminated water from
being drawn into the tank from the domestic supply). Open any hot
water tap in the house. (This allows air to enter the tank so
water will flow out easily). Drain needed water from the bottom
of the tank at the drain valve. It is very Important to turn off
the heat source to the hot water heater before draining water
because of the danger of super heating and fire.
4. The toilet water storage or flush tank... To be potable, the
water must come from the tank and not the bowl. It must not have
additives in it. Do not drink water colored blue with chemicals.
5. Melted ice cubes
6. Water packed canned goods, (even syrups are mostly water).
7. A ground steam catch.. (A means of getting water out of the soil
and having it collect in a container.)
8. The water in home piping. Water can sometimes be removed using
the following procedure. First, locate and shut off the main
service valve. Next, locate and open the highest water tap
(generally a shower) to allow air into the system. The water can
be recovered by next locating and opening a lower system water tap
and draining the water into a suitable container.
If the purity of water is questioned, use the following methods to
make the water safe for drinking:
10. Earthquake Awareness
When the next major or great earthquake suddenly occurs in
Southern California, severe road damage, bridge collapse, damaged
and abandoned vehicles, broken underground gasoline, oil, or
natural gas pipelines, and flooding from broken water mains and
reservoirs could keep many of us separated from our families and
loved ones for as long as 3-14 days.
These post-earthquake conditions could present a greater threat to
you and your family's mental, emotional, and physical well-being
than the actual earthquake itself. It is imperative that you
understand, accept, and then prepare yourself, as well as your
family, to react to these conditions in a safe and cautious
manner. Answer the following questions and then seriously
consider their affects on everyone.
Death or serious injury could result from anyone's immediate
"uninformed" attempt to walk, ride, or drive anywhere. Discuss
with your family the importance of waiting for radio reports on
safe routes of travel, as well as, having the NAME and Phone# of
your family's "Out-of-State" emergency telephone contact.
READ EACH QUESTION BELOW WHILE YOU (X) AND/OR FILL IN THE
APPROPRIATE ANSWER. USE THESE QUESTIONS AND DISCUSS, WITH YOUR
LOVED ONES,THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT PANICKING AND TRYING TO GET BACK
HOME UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN ASSURED OF A SAFE TRAVEL ROUTE BY LOCAL
OR MILITARY AUTHORITIES.
1. Who is your family's out-of-state emergency telephone contact?
____________________________
NOTE: Call someone who lives out of the State or Province TODAY!
Ask them to be our family's Out-of-State emergency telephone
contact. Tell them that each member of the family
will attempt to call as soon as possible, to leave and/or receive
messages on each other's whereabouts, personal condition, etc.
Name:______________________________ Phone# ( ) ___-__________
(_)Relative (_)Friend
EVERY FAMILY MEMBER SHOULD CARRY THIS NAME AND PHONE NUMBER WITH
THEM
2. How many miles from work do you live ? ___________
3. How do you travel to and from work each day ?
(_) your own car, (_) RTD bus, (_) car pool, (_)motorcycle,
(_) other
4. How many of those listed below live with you or depend on your
daily or frequent personal care ? (_) husband, (_) wife,
(_) children, (_) pets, (_) roommate, (_) mother, (_) father, (_)
brother, (_) sister, (_) grandmother, (_) grandfather,
( ) other
5. How many miles from your children's school are you each day?
______________________
6. How many miles from home do your children travel to attend
school ?
_________________________
7. How do they travel to and from school each day ?
(_) walk, (_) bicycle, (_) your car, (_) car pool,
(_) school bus, ( ) RTD bus, (_) other
8. Have you and the school prepared the "on-hand" supplies
necessary to care for your child's:
( ) medical (special daily medications), (_) water, (_) food,
(_) sanitation and (_) temporary shelter needs for at least 72
hours ?
9. Does your child have a signed medical release form on file at
school and with their authorized guardian ?
10. Who has been authorized (with their signature on file at the
school) to pick up your children from their school if you are
unable to ?
11. Who would be the closest authorized person during school hours?
12. Does your work Place have an emergency plan?
AUTHORIZATION OF CONSENT TO TREATMENT OF MINOR
NOTE: Each child needs separate copies at each school, doctor's
office, hospital, babysitter, family emergency file, etc. Keep a
list of locations on file, in case you need to make changes. You
are encouraged you to reproduce as many copies of the of this form
as necessary.
(I) (We), The undersigned, parent(s) of __________________________
a minor, do hereby authorize______________________________________
(Relative, Family Physician, Babysitter, or Other)
as agent(s) for the undersigned to consent to an x-ray examination,
anesthetic, medical or surgical diagnosis or treatment and hospital
care which is deemed advisable by, and is to be rendered under the
general supervision of any physician and surgeon licensed under the
provisions of the Medicine Practice Act on the Medical Staff of
_______________________________________________________ Hospital,
or __________________________________ MD.
(Family Physician)
whether such diagnosis or treatment is rendered at the office of
said physician or at said hospital.
It is understood that this authorization is given in advance of any
specific diagnosis, treatment or hospital care being required but
is given to provide authority and power on the part of our foresaid
agent(s) to give specific consent to any and all such diagnosis,
treatment of hospital care which the aforementioned physician in
the exercise of ms best judgment my deem advisable.
This authorization is given pursuant to the provisions of section
25.8 of the Civil Code of California (Allows Parent(s) or Guardian
to authority any adult to consent to medical or dental treatment
as stated in paragraph No. I above.)
This authorization shall remain effective until ___________,19____,
unless sooner revoked in writing delivered to said agent(s).
Dated:_________________________ ________________________________
(Father or Legal Guardian)
_______________________________ ________________________________
Witness Witness (Mother or Legal Guardian)
FOR PATIENT'S PROTECTION
1. ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES: Is there a history of skin or
other untoward reaction or sickness following injection or oral
administration of:
(circle)
(a) Penicillin or other antibiotics yes no
(b) Morphine, Codeine, Demerol or other narcotics yes no
(c) Novacaine or other anesthetics yes no
(d) Aspirin, emperin or other pain remedies yes no
(e) Sulfa drugs yes no
(f) Tetanus antitoxin or other serums yes no
(g) Adhesive tape yes no
(h) Iodine or merthiolate yes no
(i) Any other drug or medication yes no
(j) Any foods, such as egg, milk, or chocolate yes no
(k) Other:_________________________________________ yes no
If any 'Yes' responses, describe:__________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. DRUGS TAKEN RECENTLY: within the past six (6) months has the
patient taken:
(circle)
(a) Cortisone yes no
(b) ACTH yes no
(c) Anticoagulants yes no
(d) Tranquilizers yes no
(e) Hypotensives (high blood pressure medicines) yes no
If any 'yes' responses, describe: _______________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Has the patient ever received treatment for Asthma Rheumatism
or Rheumatic Fever?
yes no
Source of information, if other than patient:_____________________
__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________ Date ____________
(Signature of person acquiring this information)
_____________________
(Noted by M.D.
