During the 2009 ShakeOut Drill, I participated in a mock earthquake/explosion exercise for the Torrance Memorial Hospital along with many other groups and city agencies. As a participant I was an impaled victim 1st and a chest wound victim 2nd. I went through the various stages of triage and treatment at the hospital. This drill was to help with the hospital emergency team state-of-readiness and to help with their disaster preparedness program. This was a great opportunity for the hospital staff to improve on their skills and give them hands on training in a mass casualty setting. This drill started before the state wide drill and during my first scenario, I was in a recovery room at 10:15, that is when I ducked and covered for the state wide drill.

As far as getting ready for an event as described in the ShakeOut scenario, you can never be fully ready. For the past few years I have been purchasing many items directly related to disaster preparedness, my goal is to buy one or two items a month. I have been purchasing emergency food/water, first aid packs, fire extinguishers, tools, flashlights etc. I have also been assembling emergency Go-Bags for my family which includes many items mentioned above. Education is extremely important as well and having an Amateur Radio License (Ham Radio), CERT training, CPR, First Aid, triage, light Search & Rescue exposure helps me in the sense of not feeling helpless if an event as described in the ShakeOut were to actually happen or any other disaster type event.

I am very pleased that the ShakeOut organization and the State of California has taken the steps to educate it's population on the long term effects of an event like this. After reading the eye opening ShakeOut scenario, I am very glad to take the preemptive measures to start getting my family ready for what is sure to come, hopefully never but why take the chance, it's nice to feel somewhat ready.