by
Brian “Steiny” Steinberg
Assistant Hall Coordinator
Instructor of Geography
University of Northern Iowa

Keith “Lumpy” Hansen
Resident Assistant
University of Northern Iowa
 
 

TOP TEN THINGS NOT TO DO DURING A TORNADO!

FROM THE HOME OFFICE AT TORNADO VALLEY, USA
 

10.    YELL and PANIC!

9.    Hang out in a trailer park.

8.    Open all the windows in your house.

7.  Stay in the southwest corner of your house.

6. Get in your car and chase the tornado.

5.  Hang out in a barn filled with sharp farm equipment.

4.  Call your friends and tell them about it!

3.  Go to the highest building in town and watch it.

2.  Try to throw projectiles into it (forks, knives, straw, baseballs).

1.  Go grab your camcorder!
 

OUTLINE

1.  Tell starter about our entrance.
2.  Sound off siren and run in like maniac’s, and get down in tornado safety positions.
3.  Show tornado video.
4.  Brian will talk about tornado safety (flooding and hail).
5.  Keith will talk about lightning safety.
6.  Brian will talk about cold and hot weather safety.
7.  Programming ideas and bulletin boards using the weather and other earth science phenomenon.
8.  Keith will talk about astronomy.
9.  Use your major for everything!
 

GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM

1.  The participant will learn severe weather and safety information to bring back to their resident halls and implement in the form of active and passive programming.

2.  The participant will obtain ideas how to use the weather and other earth science phenomenon to create active, passive, and contest based programming in their resident halls.

3.  The participant will learn how to implement weather and earth science phenomenon activities.

4.  The participant will be shown and given weather and earth science phenomenon resources which can be used for programming

5.  The participant will learn how to use other academic majors to program in their residence halls.
 

PROGRAMMING IDEAS

PASSIVE (Displays)

1.  Implement a weather station in your resident hall (need a in-door out-door thermometer, dry erase boards and markers).  Forecast the weather for each week using the weather channel as a reference or the internet (http://www.weather.com), or University of Minnesota’s Gopher system under weather.

2.  “Rock of the Week”.

3.  “Sand Sample of the Week”.

4.  “Fossil of the Week”.

5.  “Soil Sample of the Week”.

PASSIVE (Bulletin Boards)

1.  Tornado Safety
2.  Lightning Safety
3.  Flood and Hail Safety
4.  Cold Weather Safety (cold exposure and frost bite).
5.  Hot Weather Safety (heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat strokes).

CONTESTS

1.  Guess the first day it will snow in the Fall.
2.  Guess the first day the temperature will hit 60+ in the Spring.
3.  Guess the high/low temperature for the day.
4.  Guess the coldest temperature in the winter.
 
 

ACTIVE PROGRAMMING
THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO VISIT

1.  Visit a Museum.
2.  Go caving (spelunking).
3.  Visit a Planetarium/observatory.
4.  Go on a star hike.
 

RESOURCES

Videos- You can send me a blank tape in the mail and I will record any of these videos for you.

1.  Twister
2.  Tornado Video Classics
3.  Great Weather Catastrophies
4.  Volcano
5.  The Great Los Angeles Earthquake
6.  Dante’s Peak
7.  Jurassic Park
8.  The Lost World

TOP TEN THINGS NOT TO DO IN LIGHTNING

FROM THE HOME OFFICE IN TAMPA, FLORIDA

10.  Play golf (make sure you swing high).

9.  Talk on a phone with a long wire.

8.       Work on a computer, with the TV on while on the internet (phone
          conection).

7. Go swimming, then take a bath or shower.

6. Hang out under a tree eating dinner with a metal fork.

5.  Hang out on the roof of your car and watch it.

4.       Watch a baseball game in centerfield, while sitting on metal
 bleachers.

3.  Go fishing in the middle of a big lake.

2.  Drive a big metal tractor in the middle of a big open field.

1.       Go out side and fly a kite (be sure to tie a key to the bottom of the
           kite.
 

Winter Weather Safety Rules!
How to stay safe this winter!
 

1. Dressing for cold weather:

 Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight clothing.
 Wear mittens instead of gloves. Wear a hat.
 Remember that entrapped, insulating air, warmed by body heat is
the best protection from the cold.

2. Avoid Overexertion:

 The strain from cold temperatures and heavy labor such as shoveling,
pushing a car, or walking in deep snow may cause a heart attack in
older and less physically fit individuals.

3. Winterize Your Vehicle Early:

 Be prepared against the first blast of winter. Avoid automobile gas line freeze ups
by keeping your tank greater than half full at all times.
 Make sure that your car has adequate antifreeze.
 Make sure that your tires have good traction and are inflated to the right pressure.
 Make sure that your heater and defroster work properly.
 Make sure that your battery is not more than 3 years old and that it can carry a full charge.
 Make sure that you have a good ice scraper.

4. Carry a Winter-Survival Safety Kit in your vehicle:

 Bring along blankets and a bright piece of cloth to tie on your antenna if you become stranded.
 Flashlight with spare batteries.
 Extra change of clothing to keep dry.
 Non-perishable foods such as candy bars, canned goods, or high calorie food like Power Bars.
 A can and waterproof matches (used to melt snow for drinking water).
 A compass, shovel and sand, tow rope, and jumper cables.

5. Before traveling:

  Check local weather reports.
 Check the latest road conditions before you head out into Winter weather.
 Let someone know where you are going and when you think you
will reach your destination.

6. If you become stranded in your vehicle during a Winter storm:

 Stay in your car, truck, or minivan.
 Run the engine at 10 minute intervals for heat.
 Maintain proper ventilation by making sure the exhaust pipe is not plugged.
 Leave the windows open slightly to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
 Make yourself visible to rescuers. Tie a bright cloth to your antenna or door handle.
 Turn on the dome light at night, but only when running the engine.

7. At home, do the following before Winter becomes a reality:

 Have your furnace checked before you need to use it.
 Seal any windows that you suspect allow cold air into the house with caulking or plastic.
 Include a home safety kit that includes extra non-perishable food, medicine,
and a battery operated radio.
 Keep a flashlight and extra batteries handy.
 Keep candles and matches handy for extended periods of electrical loss.

8. If you lose heat in your home:

 Seal off any unused rooms by stuffing towels or rags in the cracks under the door.
 Cover the windows with blankets or sheets at night if you have some extras available.
 Use only devices that are designed for heating indoors during as emergency heat
source and handle all safety precautions.

9. Install and test smoke alarms in your home:

 Have fire extinguishers checked to combat an accidental fire due to the use
of alternative heat sources.
 
 

:
? Stay indoors, preferably in an air conditioned environment. If air conditioning is not available, use fans and open windows to circulate the air. Keep blinds closed to prevent direct sunlight from entering.
? Avoid strenuous activity. If possible, postpone such activity until the early morning or evening hours--after the extreme heat has passed.
? Drink fluids lost by your body. Water and fruit are preferable to soft drinks, coffee, and alcohol, some of which can actually dehydrate your body.
? Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that does not interfere with the evaporation of perspiration.
? Take frequent cool baths or showers.
? Avoid cooking or baking during the hottest part of the day.
You should also know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and what to do if you or someone you know is suffering from either of these conditions.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
Dizziness Nausea
Light-headedness Headache
Cool, clammy skin Heavy perspiration
Shallow breathing Muscle tremors, cramping
Near normal body temperature

If these symptoms occur, lie the person on his back in the coolest nearby place; loosen any tight clothing; lower his head slightly; raise his feet; apply wet cloths. The person should slowly drink a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Monitor the person carefully for a change in condition.

Additional symptoms for heat stroke, which can be fatal, include:
Severe headache Red, dry face
Skin hot to the touch Rapid, shallow breathing
Significantly elevated body temperature Weak pulse
Changes in consciousness Seizures, cardiac arrhythmias

A person suffering from these symptoms is in a life-threatening situation. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Move the person to a cooler place. Any tight clothing should be loosened and, most importantly, the person should be flooded with cold water. If the person has a seizure, protect them from striking objects and do not put anything in the mouth. If the person refuses water, is vomiting, or falls in and out of consciousness, do not give him anything to eat or drink.

Senior citizens are most susceptible to the extreme heat. If you have friends, neighbors, or relatives who are senior citizens, help by checking on their conditions periodically. Persons with chronic illnesses should also be looked after.
 
 

FLOOD SAFETY RULES
Floods are usually caused by extended periods of rain and by snowmelt or a combination of the two.

Before the flood
? Keep on hand materials that might be needed such as sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber.
? Keep first aid supplies on hand.
? Keep automobile fuel tanks filled.
? Keep food that requires no cooking or refrigeration on hand.
? Keep a portable radio with fresh batteries on hand.
? Make sure all flashlights work and have extra batteries on hand.
? Know your elevation above flood stage.
When flood is in progress
? Store drinking water in tubs and plastic containers.
? Move essential items to higher locations.
? Move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood water.
And have flood insurance.
 
 

Hail safety tips:

­ Substantial structures and highway overpasses (out of traffic lanes) offer the best hail protection. An awning, a gas station overhang, or even an unexposed side of a building can also offer protection.
­ Vehicles offer good protection from hail up to about golfball size, but significant windshield and body damage can result with hail larger than golfballs.
­ If at all possible, face the vehicle into the hail ­­ side windows are brittle compared to windshields. But keep driving lanes clear.
 
 

The content on these pages was originally provided by Brian C. Steinberg, the founder of http://www.theallygroup.org and http://www.safezoneforall.com (Creater of the previous: http://www.residentassistant.com/reslifepro)

© ResidentAssistant.com.  Disclaimer.