Earthquakes strike violently, suddenly, and without warning. Staying safe during earthquake is important. It strikes anywhere in the world, every hour of every single day. With that, identifying hazards right away and the plan would help reduce potential dangers of injuries or even loss of life because of the earthquake.
It even causes fires, landslides, tsunamis, or even avalanches. With that, staying safe during an earthquake involves being prepared and should know what to do. With that, learning earthquake safety at home and creating a disaster safety kit before another earthquake happens is crucial.
In this video, we have prepared some tips on how to survive earthquakes. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
So, how do you survive an earthquake?
An earthquake is the sudden and rapid shaking of the earth caused by the shifting of rock beneath the earth’s surface. It could happen at any time of the year, day, or even night. Leaving us no warning at all.
Many injuries could happen during an earthquake, resulting from shifting or falling of items because of the tremendous shaking. With that, you can identify potential hazards before an earthquake to protect yourself and your family.
It would help if you had an inventory of the house and where you usually work because anything that moves or fall when an earthquake happens must be placed in closed cabinets or secondary containers. Anything you can put anywhere should also be secured or attached to the wall, like the bookcases.
If possible, avoid hanging mirrors or pictures near beds or places people sit. To make it simple, you just have to follow these basic survival tips before it’s too late.
- Come up with an earthquake safety plan. Know where you will meet if all of you become separated and how you will communicate when the earthquake strikes. Perhaps you can discuss with your family what you’re going to do.
- Practice the famous DROP, COVER, and HOLD. We are reminded of these in school, the office, or the media. Perhaps this is the standard operating procedure when we’re in the situation.
- Don’t just rely on entrance or exit ways for protection. If an earthquake happens, get under a desk or table and hold on until the shaking stops.
- Choose safe places in each of the rooms of your home.
- Have an emergency survival kit that will provide you and your pets with three days of nonperishable water and food, medicines, radio, and, most importantly, first aid materials. Keep it in places where you reach it easily.
- Identify friends or relatives to which your family can check and send a message.
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Ways of Staying Safe During Earthquakes
This is a better understanding to keep you and the people around you safe when an earthquake strikes.
1. DROP, COVER, and HOLD
In most circumstances, you can protect yourself if you drop down on your hands and knees before an earthquake hits you down. This kind of position will protect you from falling and allow you to stay still and move whenever necessary.
Cover and protect your neck and head with your hands and arms. Covering your head and neck, even if it means covering your whole body underneath the durable table or desk, would also help. If there’s no shelter or protection in the vicinity, get down close to the interior wall or even next to low-lying furniture that will not fall easily.
When holding on to your shelter, you must keep still until it stops shaking. Prepare yourself to move with shelter if the shaking changes around.
2. Stay Inside
If you are still inside the premises, then remain inside. Don’t just run outdoors or to any other rooms during earthquakes. You’re less likely to get hurt or injured if you just stay where you are. Move away from hanging objects, glass, bookcases, or other large furniture quickly within a few seconds before the shaking gets strong.
3. Avoid Standing in the Doorway
Don’t stand in doorways. In modern houses, the doorways are not usually stronger than any other part of the house. It won’t keep you safe from injuries or flying or falling objects. You can always be safe under a table.
4. Stay Outside
Always remember that the biggest danger from falling debris is just right outside the doorways. Now, this is different from staying inside. So, if you’re outside, then remain outside. And when you remain outside, stay away from utility wires, buildings, fuel or gas lines, and sinkholes.
Go to open areas, if possible, away from telephone poles, trees, and buildings. When you’re in an open area, get down low and stay calm until it stops shaking. Always remember that the area near the outside walls of any building is dangerous. Therefore, stay away from these danger zones.
5. Stop Safely and Quickly if You are in a Moving Vehicle
Perhaps it will be hard to know if there’s shaking when you’re in a moving vehicle. But when you think something is wrong, move your vehicle to the curb or shoulder away from the pole, overhead wires, or overpasses.
Set the parking brake and stay inside the car even if the car may shake violently on the springs. It’s always a great place to stay inside until the shaking stops.
You may also turn on the radio for broadcast information to know what’s happening. But if the power lines fall on the car, then remain inside until the professionals remove the wire. Just when it’s safe to start driving again, perhaps watch for hazards made by the earthquake.
6. Remain Seated
This could be a case-to-case scenario because if you can’t drop on the ground, then keep on seating so you won’t get knocked down. If you’re in a wheelchair, just lock your wheels and get rid of any items that don’t securely attach to the wheelchair.
Of course, you must protect your neck and head with a pillow, a large book, or arms. This will prevent injuries from falling or objects that could fall or be hurled at you.
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Wrapping Up
Nobody would ever know when or where the earthquake could happen. Our goal is to protect ourselves and our loved ones during an earthquake. Stay calm and help people who are with you at the time of the incident. Go to safe places and take protective positions.
Always remember that some earthquakes have aftershocks, and there could be a larger earthquake that may occur. With all these survival tips and hacks, staying safe during an earthquake could be possible.
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