Expo highlights safety at ULV




Campus Times
November 21, 1997

 

by Katrina Hall
Staff Writer

The University of La Verne held its Second Annual ULV Preparedness/Safety Expo Nov. 14 in Sneaky Park.

This event was for the community to be aware of the disasters and earthquakes and how to prepare and stay safe during these times.

"I sent out letters and invitations to invite them," said Keena Blythe, administrative assistant in Human Resources.

Among the participants was the ULV Housing and Residential Life program who passed out information so students can be aware of safety for earthquakes, disasters and other emergencies.

"We have a strategy of things we do for the residential assistants and the program assistants to do in case of any disasters," said Kenia Magallanes, PA for the Oaks residence hall.

The ULV Maintenance Department gave the RA's and PA's a tour through the three dorms of where the gas valves are so they will know how to turn them off.

"They are working to expand the disaster plan in the upcoming year," said Magallanes, a junior.

The Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, known nationally as one of the Top 100 hospitals, came to educate people on how to live a more healthy lifestyle.

"The No. 1 thing you can do to help yourself stay healthy is to not smoke," said Martha Osborne, registered nurse and educator. "Lung cancer usually does not show up for 10 to 30 years after smoking because people have good immune systems."

Twelve to 15 support groups are in the area and support people going through cancer. They offer counseling for marriage and family.

The Earthquake Management from Los Angeles County was on hand selling emergency survival supplies.

"You should always have an out-of-state contact," said Herb Kahn, a representative from the county. "People have to stay focused to know what to do at times like these."

Kahn will be meeting with the ULV Safety Committee next week to talk about the needs of the campus and how to prepare for disasters.

A distributing manufacturer, C-K Sales Survivor, had a booth selling food, water, blankets, solar radios, first aid kits and other emergency products to Expo participants.

"We bake the food products ourself and it has a shelf life of five years," said Clare Bertien, sales representative from C-K. "The water is sterilized and purified."

The company is now shipping emergency survival kits to 14 foreign countries.

"Water is the most important thing we need in our body," said Bertien. "We can go without food for three days, but with water, you can't."

The founder of Covering Wings, a non-profit organization that distributes winter warmings, Raymond Fico, was also selling Protectors.

The Protector is a blanket, a raincoat, a poncho, a tent and a lean-to and can save a life from hypothermia.

"Every school should have one of these [Protectors] at the door during earthquake drills," said Fico.

ULV is meeting with Fico to purchase enough for every student in the school.

"We give blankets to the homeless and we have a warehouse where we give out socks, sweaters, blankets and hats," said Fico.

The warehouse receives yarn and people come by and pick it up and knit hats and sweaters. Then they bring it back to the warehouse to be distributed to those who need it.



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