ShakeOut

On 26 September at 9:26am, Taranaki DHB will take part in the first ever nationwide earthquake drill.

Exercise ShakeOut has been created to help people and organisations be better prepared for an earthquake. More than one million people from across New Zealand have registered!

All staff at Hawera Hospital, Base Hospital and our Health Centres are encouraged to take part in this event.

The exercise will be held at 9.26am on the Wednesday morning. At this time staff and visitors should practice the Drop, Cover, Hold technique:

• DROP to the ground
• COVER by getting under a sturdy desk, table, etc
• HOLD on to it until the shaking stops

Safe places in an earthquake:

Somewhere close to you, no more than a few steps or less than three metres away, to avoid injury from flying debris.

Under a strong table. Hold on to the table legs to keep it from moving away from you.

Next to an interior wall, away from windows that can shatter and cause injury and tall furniture that can fall on you. Protect your head and neck with your arms.

Keep in mind that in modern homes and buildings, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the structure and usually have doors that can swing and injure you.

If you are outdoors when the shaking starts, move no more than a few steps away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines, then Drop, Cover and Hold.

We encourage as many people as possible to register themselves, their families, their schools and their businesses by going to www.shakeout.govt.nz

Being involved is a great way for you to be better prepared for a major earthquake.

Last updated: Wednesday, January 28, 2015