The ground is shaking. What do you do?
Actions taken in the next few seconds and minutes could be the difference between life and death or serious injury. Test your knowledge of what to do when an earthquake strikes:
During and after a quake (Flash video).

Prepare yourself for an emergency, both at EVC, SJCC, and at home:
American Red Cross tips on Earthquake preparedness and safety, including Prepare a Home Earthquake Plan, Eliminate Hazards, Prepare a Disaster Supplies Kit for Home and Car, Know What to Do When the Shaking Begins, and Identify What to Do After the Shaking Stops.

See also Evacuation Procedures, Assisting People with Disabilities and Emergency Evacuation of People with Disabilities.

During an earthquake, remain calm and quickly follow the steps outlined below.

1. If indoors, seek refuge in a corner, under a desk or table. Avoid windows, shelves, and heavy equipment.
2. When the earth is shaking, DROP to your knees, clasp both hands behind the neck, bury your face in your arms, make your body as small as possible, close eyes and cover ears with forearms.
3. If outdoors, move quickly away from buildings, utility poles, and other structures.
4. After initial shock, evaluate the situation and if emergency help is necessary call the District Police Department at extension X6468. Protect yourself at all times and be prepared for after shocks.
5. Turn off all potentially hazardous equipment such as gas and electric appliances. Damaged facilities should be reported to Buildings and Grounds at extension X6055 or X3757 if the District Police Department was not called.
6. If necessary activate the building alarm system.
7. Evacuate the building by quickly walking to the nearest exit, alerting people as you go. Be aware of structural damage and assist both the disabled and injured.
8. FLASH THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF to alert deaf or hard of hearing students. Write notes to explain what is happening.
9. Once outside, move to a clear area at least 150-300 feet away from the affected building(s). Keep walkways clear for emergency vehicles.
10. To the best of your ability, and without reentering the building, assist in determining that everyone has evacuated safely.

DO NOT RETURN TO AN EVACUATED BUILDING UNLESS DIRECTED BY APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY.

• Earthquake Evacuation Procedures 
• Assisting People with Disabilities
• Emergency Evacuation of People with Disabilities

   Emergency Procedures: Evacuation

• Evacuation Procedures 
• Assisting People with Disabilities 
• Emergency Evacuation of People with Disabilities
  

Emergency Telephone Numbers

1. Call 911 (9-911), then
2. Notify SJECCD Police at (408) 270-6468

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

Fire/Bomb Threat

• When the alarm sounds, DO NOT PANIC. Leave by the nearest exit or stairway.
• DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS
• All persons will evacuate to at least 150 feet from the buildings.
• Special precautions must be taken to ensure that persons who have impaired hearing are notified and persons with disabilities are assisted as appropriate.

Earthquake

Special precautions must be taken to ensure that persons who have impaired hearing are notified and persons with disabilities are assisted as appropriate.

If indoors, stay indoors. Take precautions:

• Get under a table or desk
• Stand in an interior doorway
• Kneel down in a corner of the room
• Hold your hands or books over your head
• Stay away from windows
• Wait until the earthquake is over
• Use stairways, NOT ELEVATORS, to evacuate
• Cautiously leave building
• Watch out for falling roof tile

If outside, move away from buildings and utility wires. Once in the open, stay there until the earthquake is over. DO NOT GO BACK INSIDE.

In a Disaster, You Must Evacuate As Follows:

• EVC and SJCC Emergency Evacuation Map
• Emergency evacuations of people with mobility disabilities need special consideration.

Assisting People with Disabilities during Emergencies

• Always ASK someone with a disability how you can help BEFORE attempting to provide assistance. Ask how he or she can best be assisted and whether they are any special considerations or items that need to come with that person.

Blindness or Visual Impairment

• Give verbal instructions to advise about the safest route or direction using compass directions, estimated distances, and directional terms (such as left, right, up, down).
• DO NOT grasp a visually impaired person's arm - ASK if he or she would like to hold onto your arm as you exit, especially if there is debris or a crowd.
• Give other verbal instructions or information as necessary.

Deafness or Hearing Loss

• Get the attention of a person with a hearing disability by touch and eye contact. Clearly state the problem. Gestures and pointing are helpful, but BE PREPARED TO WRITE a brief statement if the person does not seem to understand.
• Offer visual instructions to advise of the safest route or direction by pointing toward exists or evacuation maps.

Mobility Impaired

• It may be necessary to help clear the exit route of debris (if possible) so that the mobility impaired person can move to a safer area.
• If people with mobility impairments cannot exit, they should move to a safer area, e.g.,
• Most enclosed stairwells.
• An office with a door shut which is a good distance from the hazard (and away from falling debris in the case of earthquake).
• If people are in immediate danger and cannot be moved to a safer area to wait for assistance, it may be necessary to evacuate them using a carry technique or, if available, an evacuation chair.
• Notify police or fire personnel immediately about any people remaining in the building and their locations.
• Police or file personnel will decide whether people are safe where they are, and will evacuate them as necessary. The Fire Department may determine that it is safe to override the rule against using elevators.

Emergency Evacuation of People with Mobility Disabilities or Injured People

Evacuating a disabled or injured person yourself is the LAST resort. Consider your options and risks of injuring yourself and others in an evacuation attempt. DO NOT make an emergency situation worse.

Evacuation is difficult and uncomfortable for both the rescuers and people being assisted. Some people may have conditions that can be aggravated or triggered if they are moved incorrectly. Remember that environmental conditions (smoke, debris, loss of electricity) will complicate evacuation efforts. The following guidelines are general and may not apply in every circumstance:

• Two or more trained volunteers, if available, should conduct the evacuation.
• DO NOT evacuate disabled people in their wheelchairs - evacuate the person NOT the wheelchair. This is standard practice to ensure the safety of disabled people and volunteers. Wheelchairs will be evacuated later if possible. 
• Always ASK people with a disability how you can help BEFORE attempting any rescue technique or giving assistance. Ask how they can best be assisted or moved and if there are any special considerations or items that need to come with them.
• Before attempting an evacuation, volunteers and the people being assisted should discuss how any lifting will be done and where they are going.
• Proper lifting techniques (e.g., bending at the knees, keeping the back straight, holding the person close before lifting, and using leg muscles to lift) should be used to avoid injury to rescuers' backs.

  First Aid Instructions

Fainting, Unconsciousness, and Shock

1. Have victim lie or sit down and rest
2. Keep victim comfortable, not hot or cold 
3. Ask or look for emergency medical I.D.
4. Treat other injuries as necessary

Mouth to Mouth Resuscitation

1. Place victim on side and remove foreign matter from mouth with finger
2. Place victim on back
3. Tilt victim's head back to open airway
4. Close victim's nostrils with fingers
5. Inhale and place your mouth over victim's mouth
6. Exhale until victim's chest expands
7. Repeat every five seconds
8. Keep trying until help arrives
9. If problem, check victim for airway obstruction

Severe Bleeding and Wounds

1. AVOID DIRECT CONTACT WITH BLOOD; IF POSSIBLE WEAR SURGICAL RUBBER GLOVES WHEN BLEEDING IS INVOLVED
2. Apply direct pressure on wound
3. Use clean cloth or hand
4. Apply pressure to blood vessel, if necessary
5. Elevate body part
6. Add more cloth if blood soaks through
7. Keep pressure on wound until help arrives
8. Use tourniquet only as last resort  

Choking

1. Check victim's mouth and clear of foreign matter
2. Lower head and give back blows 
3. Still choking, use abdominal thrusts  

Heart Attack

1. Place victim laying down on back
2. Give resuscitation or CPR as necessary (if trained)
3. Keep victim comfortable, not hot or cold
4. Ask or look for emergency medical I.D.

Burns, Thermal and Chemical

1. Immerse burned area in cold water
2. Flood chemical burn with cool water
3. Cover burn with dry bandage
4. Keep victim quiet and comfortable

Fractures and Sprains

1. Keep victim still
2. Keep injured area immobile
3. CAUTION: HEAD, NECK OR BACK INJURY: Any victim suspected of having head, neck or back injury, keep absolutely still. Treat for shock if necessary and keep warm

Poisoning and Overdose

1. Determine what substance is involved and how taken
2. Stay with victim and assist as necessary
3. If choking, lower head