California has a long history of powerful earthquakes; therefore, homeowners and renters must be prepared for inevitable seismic activity. Both Northern and Southern California residents were shaken by minor quakes in the summer of 2019. These minor quakes are a reminder for the “big one” that scientists are warning will happen in the near future.
It's important to stay as calm as possible during an earthquake so that you can think rationally and avoid doing things that can put you or others in danger. Remaining calm helps you stay focused on the situation.
Panic and stress are the main reasons that make the situation worse during natural disasters. Disasters are aggravated when people add chaos to the equation. It's important not to panic during an earthquake. You must maintain a rational state of mind so that you don't do something regretful out of fear.
Panic and anxiety can influence your decision-making capability during an earthquake. In a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience, it was reported that during panic and anxiety, the prefrontal cortex of your brain which is responsible for flexible decision-making is disengaged. This can directly influence how you behave and act during stressors like an earthquake. For example, if you are driving, you may react to panic and drive erratically. If you are in an open space, you may try to rush indoors due to anxiety, which can cause an injury.
Another study by the NCBI concludes that the results of frequent panicking is associated with memory dysfunction, decision-making impairments, and executive function deficiencies, all of which are essential for performing any big and small task, even during an earthquake.
Check your disaster plan for steps to follow and community resources such as evacuation centers. Here are a few ways to prepare for and respond to earthquakes:
Related Blog: How Mindfulness Can Help in Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Anyone who lives or works near a fault line should be concerned about the building's safety. Many structures built before the late nineties do not meet modern earthquake safety standards, which is why owners of older buildings should have their properties inspected.
The business should also develop a disaster recovery plan, which is a set of steps to follow for emergencies. Every business needs to back up its data regularly to avoid data loss in the event of massive power failures due to earthquakes. Businesses should provide emergency kits with basic first aid tools and a supply of water and food.
A series of tremors may follow the earthquake, creating dangerous conditions by making structures more vulnerable. Be aware that the state of California is working on developing a seismic network that sends out alerts to the public and infrastructure organizations such as train stations. Governor Newsom said that in 2019, this system was 70% complete.
Severe earthquakes are rare in California, but recent quakes serve as a reminder that people living in seismic zones need to prepare for the worst. The most important thing people should remember is to prepare an emergency kit and be ready to follow an emergency backup plan.
If you suffer any minor injury you can come to our urgent care centers for a quick and effective treatment.
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
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