Do you know what to do during an earthquake?

• "DROP to your hands and knees.

• COVER your head and neck with your arms. This position protects you from falling and provides some protection for vital organs. Because moving can put you in danger from the debris in your path, only move if you need to get away from the danger of falling objects. If you can move safely, crawl for additional cover under a sturdy desk or table. If there is low furniture, or an interior wall or corner nearby and the path is clear, these may also provide some additional cover. Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.

• HOLD ON to any sturdy shelter until the shaking stops."

• Source: www.ready.gov/earthquakes

Here are pictures of some of my co-workers responding to an earthquake.

Here is one thing that you can do RIGHT NOW to improve safety: Make certain that there is space under your desk.

Responding to an earthquake

Responding to an earthquake

Not enough space under desk to respond to an earthquake;
 (Not enough space to crouch properly on hands and knees)

No room to shelter during an earthquake!

The members of the Safety Issue Team learned this and other information at the December in-service. For more information, please visit this information: www.ready.gov/earthquakes.

Stay safe!

GP

Cats and Christmas trees: Tips to keep both Meow-Mix and your tree safe

All:

Put a tree in the house with shiny things dangling from the branches and what do you get? One happy cat!

Here are some tips to help both pets and your tree safe. I talked to my friend Steve Beck (4-H Companion Animal Projects), who suggested the following:

• Avoid thin, string-like decorations, such as tinsel and Easter grass. It can get trapped in the pet's body, where it can work like a saw and damage the organs.
• Place ornaments, especially the fragile ones, high on the tree. Use ribbon to tie ornaments to the tree.
• Attach the tree to the wall: Put an eye hook in the ceiling or in the wall and then use fishing line to secure the tree.
• Use a tree skirt to keep your pets out of the water; this will keep them safe from bacteria in standing water and any fertilizer used

Here is a picture of my little darling, Trixie Belden, before making the ascent into the tree.

Ready to proceed climbing!

Sources: 

• S. Beck, S (personal communication, December 5, 2014)
• OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. (Winter 2003). Companion animal newsletter. Retrieved December 5, 2014 from http://www.cvm.okstate.edu/files/Publications/CompanionAnimalNews/comp%20an%20news_fall%2003.pdf.
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). (n.d.). Holiday safety tips. Retrived December 5, 2014 from https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/holiday-safety-tips