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Show School Students Lccm Precautions By DR. DARYL J. Mccarty Maybe you've forgotten the earthquake that jarred parts of Utah a few months ago, causing damage to a few structures. SOME UTAH teachers haven't forgotten. They drill , their students on life-protecting measures. The drill starts when a teacher calls "duck and cover!" At that signal, every student within earshot will crouch under desks or tables, hands interlocked behind necks. The maneuver might someday save those necks. WHAT IF desks or tables are not around? In that event students get the word to move into the "duck and cover" position against an inside wall, or to stand in a doorway. They move away from windows and heavy suspended light fixtures. fix-tures. MRS. BONNIE Newman, a teacher who helped to develop an emergency preparedness plan for Roosevelt School in Granite District, once taught in California. People in that state take earthquakes seriously. They've experienced some major ones in recent years. MRS. NEWMAN said the signficance of having a plan to deal with earthquakes is that preparedness prevents panic. "If students are trained, they know exactly what to do," Mrs. Newman said. "So instead of running helter-skelter helter-skelter during an earthquake, earth-quake, they react without fear without fear in a way that could save their lives." EARTHQUAKES ARE treacherous. They strike unannounced. That's why a person's reaction should come as a natural reflex. Repeated practice can make the "duck and cover" exercise exer-cise second nature. It's sad, but we humans often of-ten fail to concern ourselves about the possibility of disaster until it strikes. Do you know what your school is doing in the area of emergency emer-gency preparedness? MAYBE YOU'LL want to explain the "duck and cover" exercise to members of your family as an earthquake precaution. You can help your family be prepared. |