Kids & Family

When Disaster Strikes, Golden View Elementary Will Be Ready

American Red Cross instructors gave earthquake preparedness presentations to Golden View Elementary students, teachers and parents on Wednesday.

You're alone in your San Ramon home and the ground begins to violently shake. The electricity goes out. Your beloved iPhone isn't working. Water isn't coming out of the faucets. The stench of gas fills the house.

Do you know what to do?

Thanks to the American Red Cross, the students, teachers and some parents at will know how to respond.

Find out what's happening in San Ramonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For the first time ever Wednesday, the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter prepared an entire school community for a disaster in a single day. It was part of the Red Cross' free Ready Rating Program, which works with organizations to prepare them for a disaster.

In the morning, Golden View students learned from professional Red Cross instructors on how to react to an earthquake. After school, teachers received specific instructions on their responsibilities in a disaster. At night, a couple dozen parents were briefed on what their family should do to be prepared.

Find out what's happening in San Ramonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I think Golden View was the ideal school for this," said Aditi Gupta, an organizational preparedness specialist with the Red Cross. "We received a lot of support from everybody and I think that's why it was successful. Hopefully we'll be able to bring this to other schools."

The Red Cross says there are three things everyone should do to be prepared for an earthquake: make a plan, get a kit, be informed. (Details on all three can be read here.)

Along with learning the basics, students also received a little first aid training.

Golden View principal Nancy White said her school has already practiced a number of disaster scenarios, but still thought the Red Cross presentations to the community was well worth it.

"I think the kids were really interested in the assembly and enjoyed it," White said. "I think the more information they receive the less scary it is when it happens."


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