Earthquake Kits for Kids

A service project by the students, faculty and communities of

Open High School of UtahImage found at http://murcha.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/school-children.jpg

Children in Earthquakes

Children suffer greatly in earthquakes. In 2008, 5,335 children died in the Sichuan, China earthquake; it occurred during the day while most of them were at school. In disasters, children have a great need for shelter and supplies.

Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesAP Photo/Gerald Herbert

REUTERS/Eduardo MunozEPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDS

AP Photo/Greg Baker

Macartney, Jane. Chinese Confirm 5,335 Children Died in Earthquake. Times Online, 8 May 2009. Web. 4 Mar. 2010. <http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6239476.ece>.

Antonio Bolfo Getty, Save the Children

Why?Earthquakes occur all over the world. They are unpredictable and can have a devastating impact on those who are unprepared. Recent quakes in China, Chile and Haiti have shown that children are particularly vulnerable.

Earthquake kits for kids will help children be better prepared foran earthquake. It will increase the children’s chance of not only surviving, but will also give them confidence and security because they will know what to do and have the means to provide for themselves.

7.8 ChinaAugust 2008

8.8 ChileFebruary 2010

7.0 HaitiJanuary 2010

USGS

Utah Could be NextWe live in Utah not far from Salt Lake City. This area, known as the Wasatch Front, is located on several very large faults by the Rocky Mountains. Geologic evidence shows that movement on the Wasatch fault and other faults in Utah can cause earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 to 7.5, with potentially catastrophic effects. Experts say there is a 1 in 4 chance that an earthquake of this magnitude will hit Utah within the next 50 years.

Utah Seismic Safety Commission, 2008, http://geology.utah.gov/online/pdf/eq_handbook.pdf

According to the Utah Division of Emergency Services and Homeland Security, if a large magnitude 7 quake were to hit the Salt Lake area, it's estimated that it would kill 2,000-3,000 people. Nearly 12% of our buildings would be damaged beyond repair. We would also have 30,000-40,000 injuries requiring medical attention and $26 billion in damages.

Who are we helping?Whittier Elementary School of Salt Lake City, Utah, is an economically disadvantaged school, who needs emergency supplies they can use to care for their students and staff in the event of an earthquake disaster.

Public School Review, 2010, http//www.publicschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/120971

Statistics, from 2006, show that 51% of the students enrolled in this schoolqualify for free lunches, compared to less than 26% at other Utah schools. In addition, household income for this area is significantly lower than the Utah average, only $28,839 compared to $45,925. We believe that by providing earthquake kits for this school we will help meet the preparednessneeds of the children and their teachers.

http://inphotos.org/school-children/

What we are doingWe would like to create 750 24-hour emergency earthquake preparedness kits for the students and faculty of Whittier Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our goal is to prepare and deliver these kits by the end of May 2010. The kits will include food, water, light, blankets, and sanitation supplies.

We will present the kits to the kids and their teachers on May 25, 2010 in an assembly for the school were we will have the opportunity to teach them the basics of earthquake safety.

Whittier Elementary School

Salt Lake City, Utah

http://www.hztlks.com/pic/2009112916512995835.jpg

How we will do it(1) Apply for financial assistance through DoSomething.org(2) Provide a sign up sheet for students, parents, and staff of Open High School of Utah to pledge needed items.(3) Purchase/collect the emergency kit items.(4) Assemble the emergency kits with volunteers from OHSU.(5) Deliver kits to Whittier Elementary School during an assembly in May 2010. During the presentation, teach the student body how to stay safe during and after an earthquake. Others in the school community can help by:

- Pledging items or financial contributions - Purchasing and collecting items - Assembling kits - Preparing/teaching the earthquake safety information at the assembly

To help us meet our goal and for further

information, please go to

ohsuearthquakekits.blogspot.c

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