Earthquake Survival: What To Do During A Quake?
You Cannot Hide From Earthquakes
When you feel that the surrounding is rattling and the house is shaking in unusually, you know that something is wrong underneath the earth’s surface. Quakes or earthquakes are without a doubt one of the most dreaded natural disasters. In fact, it’s even worse than typhoons or hurricanes. Although seismographs can detect the slightest changes in the movement of the earth, it cannot however allow people to migrate or evacuate when worse quakes suddenly occur. Unlike typhoons, for which weather predictions can warn people of incoming atmospheric disturbances, people cannot hide from earthquakes.
Earthquake Survival Is Very Crucial
This is why earthquake survival is a very crucial aspect in attaining survival skills. When you are inside a building, in your house, school or hospital there are specific areas in these places that you can run and be safe. However there are also places that are not safe to stay during an earthquake. So here are earthquake survival tips that you need to remember.
Be Informed
In places where earthquakes are prone, make sure to stay tuned with the local news on TV or radio regarding weather. As part of earthquake survival you should know the earthquake season of your area. Scientists and geologists often make reports and prediction on when an earthquake will likely occur. So be informed. Always be alert and be cautious to sensations and sounds related to earthquakes. Strange behavior of animals, howling of dogs, birds unusual flocking and snakes of earth dwelling animals emerging are just some of the telltale signs of odd earth movement.
The Drop – Cover – Roll Method
If you had been through an emergency preparedness training before, you may be familiar with the drop – cover – roll method of surviving earthquakes. If not, the method is actually very simple, using your body, drop to floor cover your face and chest with your arms and roll in safe places such as underneath a strong table. An earthquake survival method like this is comparable to the stop – drop – roll method you will apply during fire emergencies or smoke incidents. The purpose of rolling on the floor is to keep away from smoke or fumes that might be a result of gas leaks or fire. Smoke does not settle at the bottom of a space, so in order to stay away from harmful fumes, stay on the floor.
Stay under the doorframe since this is the safest and stable part of the house. Another safe place to stay in the house is under floor or roof beams. Finally, a good earthquake survival tip is to always stay collected, cool and calm during quakes.
