Safety Strap Manufacturer and Earthquake Preparedness Firm ETC Warns After Recent Events.

Online, September 12, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The power goes off in Southern California and millions of people are in the dark for hours. This happened last week. It wasn't until the next morning that the reports came in: Hospital staff using flashlights to navigate pitch black corridors, Bio-Tech firms begging next door neighbors for generator usage to save invaluable research, raw sewage flowing over pristine beaches because the waste treatment center didn't have adequate backup power. If this was a test of how prepared San Diego is for a major disaster, it's time to go back to square one.

The hospitals that fared poorly in the power outage are also particularly vulnerable to earthquakes, and this issue is only partially addressed through the complex set of retrofits mandated by the state of California. Huge gaps are left in ensuring the facility remains open after a major quake, as Earthquake Safety Straps are required in the lab and pharmacy, but not in patient rooms, food preparation areas and administrative offices. Because they are not required, most facilities don't have them.

Back-up generator power, as seen in last week's massive power outage, isn't always reliable. New on the market this month is the Quake Escape emergency light, a motion activated light that isn't hooked up to the power supply, and would provide critical and dependable lighting in a major temblor, and would have greatly aided hospital staff left in the dark last week.

Experts tell us that having redundant systems is critical to avoid total business shutdown in an earthquake. The same is true at home. So, it is vital to have an emergency kit in the car and at work, as well as at home. It is important to put safety straps on the television and the entertainment center. It pays to have multiple flashlights and the new Quake Escape light in strategic areas throughout the home. And while many families have some stockpile of additional food and water, far too few have addressed the securing of furniture and emergency lighting. Like hospitals last week in San Diego, there are gaps in preparedness. Earthquake Safety Straps and Quake Escape lights, a valuable answer the next time a wake-up test shows up unannounced.