The Secretariat of Education of Baja California informed that the state student community, including teaching and administrative personnel, worked together in order to carry out the statewide state evacuation drill. This project takes place in order to commemorate the 12 years of the earthquake that occurred in Mexicali on April 4, 2010.

The Secretary of Education, Gerardo Arturo Solís Benavides, participated in the drill that took place in primary school “Melchor Ocampo”, located in Mexicali’s Reforma neighborhood.

He explained to the more than 250 students that in all kindergarten, elementary, secondary, high school, and college state facilities this preventive culture act is promoted and practiced. In this activity, the educational community comprised of directors, teachers, students, and administrative staff, as well as the administrative staff of the Secretariat of Education in all municipalities, all participate.

He stated that 5,053 basic education, high school, and university schools, with more than 1 million students and more than 66,000 teachers, all participated in the drill to understand and know what to do before, during, and after an earthquake occurs. Among the things that one should do to correctly act in case of an earthquake are: keep calm, safeguard oneself, abandon premises in an orderly manner, obey signs and trained staff, and group together in safe, previously designated areas

The logistics that was followed was the following: guided by the State Direction of Civil Protection, the protocol for an earthquake emergency was activated at 8:30 AM.

The earthquake on April 4, 2010 reminded everyone that Baja California is a seismic zone and the State Direction of Civil Protection recommends that drill exercises must be carried out systemically and periodically during the school cycle to create a preventive culture in students. This is done by putting in practice 3 important actions: what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.

As students and teachers become aware that this preventive and planning culture must be fostered, accidents can be prevented inside schools. These activities’ goal is to create a self-protection culture to prepare children to know what they need to do when an earthquake happens.

Besides keeping calm and evacuating in an orderly fashion, Civil Protection also suggests a first aid kit, water and gas taps to be closed, to have a plan, and to have in hand lamps and non-perishable food and potable water.

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