Blog Archives

A Guide to Smoke Protection

11/26/2018

By Levi Livengood

Santa Clara County set dismissal from school due to smoke to 275 aqi (Air Quality Index). Many students and teachers were disappointed and even enraged by this threshold, which they consider arbitrary and even dangerous. It is an understatement to say that the people of Independence High School were mildly disappointed.

Sophomore Faith Livengood says that, “They should have canceled school. They even forced my little brothers to go to school. It looks so gray outside! Nonetheless, we should be grateful that the fire has not come here.”

It is important to protect ourselves from the effects of smoke on our health and the health of others. Inhaling smoke can lead to headaches on the light side, and death on the more grave end.

Keep your ears and eyes open: if you see the signs of smoke, or hear about it from others or on the news, be sure to check the average aqi (air quality index) on websites such as AirNow, a government website designed to monitor and inform citizens about the air quality near them.
Try to stay out of the smoke as much as possible, only going out for limited time prepared.
Avoid exertion in almost all cases.
If you do go out, and the air quality is dangerous (around 100 aqi), try to wear some kind of mask that covers both your mouth from below the chin, and your nose. The government recommends that you wear a particulate respirator, some come with a label that says, “NIOSH”, and either, “N95”, or, “P100”. Two straps are necessary to hold the mask in place, blocking out almost all the smoke.
If you experience discomfort from the smoke, stop exerting yourself, and get out of it. You do not want to risk the symptoms of asphyxiation and smoke inhalation. These include coughing, shortness of breath, headaches, and even lung cancer or death.

Be sure to take all the steps necessary to maintain your own health.

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Preparing for an earthquake: A Guide

11/13/2018

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By Enya Bours

Seven major faults run through or around the Bay Area, meaning that we are extremely
susceptible to earthquakes. Many things can be done to prepare for the event of an earthquake as well to stay safe during one. Here are some tips and pieces of advice from the American Red Cross and Ready.gov:

BEFORE AN EARTHQUAKE:

Make an emergency preparedness kit
- You’ll need things like flashlights, water, and copies of personal documents
- You’ll want to have things like towels, extra clothes, and entertainment items
- Read the full checklist for survival kits here
Create a plan with your family so you know what to do in the event of one
Find safe places to duck and cover under such as any piece of furniture or staying near an interior wall away from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture
Talking about disasters help you stay more mentally prepared for when they occur
Keep a flashlight and a pair of old shoes near your bed

Keep your home safe:

Bolt water heaters, gas appliances, cabinets, etc. to wall studs but have a professional install flexible fittings to avoid water or gas leaks
Don’t hang heavy items near beds or places you sleep/sit
Large, heavy, or fragile items should be close to the floor
Have a professional make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundation

DURING AN EARTHQUAKE:
If you’re indoors:

Get under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold on
Doorways aren’t necessarily stronger than any other part of a building
Protect your head and torso
If you’re in bed, curl up and hold on (remember to cover your head)
Stay indoors until shaking stops and make sure it’s safe before you exit
Use stairs instead of an elevator

If you’re outdoors:

Find a clear spot and stay there until the shaking stops
If you’re in a car, pull over to a clear area and stop
Get away from buildings, power lines, trees, etc. and if in a car avoid bridges and overpasses

AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE:

Return home only when authorities say it’s safe to
Check yourself for injuries and get first aid before helping others
Expect potential aftershocks, landslides, or even tsunamis
Even during aftershocks, remember to duck and cover
Watch out for small fires

See the earthquake safety checklist created by the American Red Cross here.

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A Guide to Smoke Protection

Preparing for an earthquake: A Guide

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NEWS & features

A Guide to Smoke Protection

Preparing for an earthquake: A Guide

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