How to survive an earthquake

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 4: Indoors
Method 2 of 4: In the car
Method 3 of 4: Outdoors
Method 4 of 4: Preparing for an earthquake
Tips
Warnings
What do you need
Emergency kit
Tools and equipment

Earthquakes occur without warning and are among the most devastating natural disasters. Remember the phrase "lie down, take cover, hold on" in order to survive the earthquake safely. Find a suitable location away from glass, exterior walls and objects that may fall. Crawl and find a cover that you don't need to leave until the aftershocks are over, and then eliminate the dangerous consequences of the elements. Getting ready is key to saving you, so put together an emergency kit for your entire family, make an emergency plan, and conduct regular drills.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Indoors

1 Hide from glass, large furniture and other hazards. In the first moments after the start of the tremors, try to quickly move away from objects that may fall and injure you. You need to lower yourself to the floor and crawl away from sources of danger like windows, cabinets, televisions, and book shelves.
- If you are in a crowded public place like a store, then there is no need to rush to the exit, even if many run there. Move away from shelving, glass and exterior walls and find cover.
- Remember the phrase “lie down, cover, hold on,” which is the best course of action in these situations.
2 Get down on all fours and hide under a sturdy table. Find a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a solid wood table, to protect you from falling objects. Get down on all fours and hide under the table until the thrusts are complete.
- If you were in bed at the start of the earthquake, then stay put. You need to get ready and cover your head with a pillow.
- If you cannot find a solid table, then take cover in the inner corner of the building.
- Don't stand in the doorway. It was previously recommended that you do this, but in reality, under a table or in a corner, you will be safer. A doorway will not provide reliable protection against falling and flying objects, which are the main cause of damage and death in an earthquake.
3 Protect your head and neck from falling debris. Try to find a pillow or other item to protect your face and head. If there is nothing suitable nearby, then cover your face, head and neck with your hands.
- With a strong earthquake, clouds of dangerous dust rise. In this case, you also need to cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief or garment.
4 Stay in a safe place until the aftershocks are over. Remain in place until at least 1-2 minutes have passed after the tremors. Be on your guard, as the tremors can be repeated at any time.
- In the event of an earthquake, you should meet with your family (or colleagues if you are at work) at an agreed safe place. Have a plan of action in advance and head to your chosen meeting point immediately after the aftershocks are over.
- In the event of subsequent shocks, you need to lie down again, take cover and hold on.
5 Be careful around the rubble when you leave the hideout. Notice broken glass or debris. If you are barefoot, walk carefully and be careful not to injure yourself. If this is the case, look for shoes with sturdy soles and long-sleeved pants and a shirt if you are wearing lightweight clothing.
- If there is a strong earthquake, remember to cover your mouth to avoid inhaling dust, especially if you have respiratory problems.
- If you are trapped, then you do not need to shout so as not to breathe dust. Instead, it is better to send a message or call the emergency services, knock on a hard surface, or use a whistle to inform rescuers of your location.
6 Inspect for possible damage and provide first aid. Call emergency services if you or people around you are injured and need medical attention. If you know how to give first aid or artificial respiration, then take the necessary steps.
- For cardiopulmonary resuscitation, place one hand on the center of the person's chest and cover it with your other hand. Keep your arms straight and press directly on your chest at a rate of about 100 strokes per minute.
- Pinch the wound to stop the bleeding. Take a sterile bandage or clean cloth and press firmly against the wound.
- If you cannot stop the bleeding, use a belt, piece of clothing, or bandage to apply a tourniquet. Apply the tourniquet 5–8 centimeters above the wound towards your torso. If the wound is on the thigh, place a tourniquet above the wound near the groin to reduce blood loss.
- If a person is seriously injured or becomes unconscious, do not move them unless there is an immediate danger inside the building.
7 Inspect the building for destruction and other hazards. These can be both cracks in the load-bearing walls of the building, and fires, the smell of gas, damage to wiring and electrical appliances. If there is any danger, you must immediately evacuate the building. It is necessary to eliminate damage to communications, if there is no danger of a collapse.
- If you smell gas or hear a hissing and hissing sound, open a window and quickly leave the building. Shut off the main gas valve outside the building and call the gas service. To fix the problem, you will need the help of specialists.
- Look for electrical damage, including sparks, broken or frayed wires, and burning odors. Try to turn off the electricity at the main panel. If the path to the dashboard lies through wet areas, then stay away from it and call an electrician.
- Extinguish minor fires with a fire extinguisher. In the event of a large-scale fire, call the emergency services. In case of fire or smell of gas, evacuate the building immediately.
- Do not drink the water from the sink, bathtub, or use the toilet until local authorities advise it to be safe. Plug the drains to prevent backflow of waste water.

Method 2 of 4: In the car

1 Stop in an open area with no trees, buildings, or other structures. Find an open area and park your car by the side of the road. Try to stay as far away from poles, large structures, bridges and other potential hazards as possible.
- Watch out for traffic and stop under safe conditions. Do not brake sharply to avoid being hit by a vehicle moving from behind.
2 Apply the parking brake and wait for the jolts to complete. During an earthquake, the car may wobble a lot, but you need to stay put and stay calm. You will be safer inside the car as it protects you from debris and falling objects.
- Turn on the radio to stay updated on the news.
3 Watch out for road damage, debris, and other hazards as you continue driving. Listen to radio messages about blocked roads or dangerous spots. When the tremors stop, continue driving and look out for damaged road surfaces, sinkholes, damaged bridges, and other hazards.
- If a power line falls on the car or it is not possible to continue driving for other reasons, then stay put. Call emergency services and wait for rescuers.

Method 3 of 4: Outdoors

1 Keep away from buildings, lanterns, power lines and bridges. In an earthquake, it is most dangerous to be near buildings. After the tremors start, try to move away from the nearest structures as much as possible.
- Get down to the ground to maintain your balance as you make your way to safety, as well as watch for falling debris.
- Do not try to hide under a bridge or overpass.
- Also look out for sinkholes, cracks, and holes in the ground.
2 Move to an open area and get down on all fours until the pushing is complete. When you are away from the buildings, get down on all fours and cover your head. Use any suitable item, such as a trash can lid, as a shield. As a last resort, cover your head and neck with your hands.
- Remain in this position until the pushing is complete.
3 Assess your surroundings and pay attention to hazards. After an earthquake, watch out for broken glass, boulders, fallen wires, trees, and other dangerous objects. Inspect for possible damage to yourself and others. If necessary, provide first aid and call emergency services.
- Keep away from damaged structures and buildings. After the earthquake, there are repeated shocks. In this case, damaged structures, windows and small architectural forms can fall to the ground.
4 Climb up a hill if you are on the shore or near a dam. If the tremors last more than 20 seconds, then there is no need to wait for an alert or warning. Climb to the site at least 30 meters above sea level or 3 kilometers from the coast.
- After earthquakes, tsunamis occur, so you need to move as far as possible from the coast.
- Catastrophic destruction is unlikely, but an earthquake could cause flooding below the dam. If you live in a floodplain, then climb higher ground. It is important to study evacuation plans in advance if you live near a dam in a seismically active area.

Method 4 of 4: Preparing for an earthquake

1 Fold emergency kit. All the necessary things need to be stored in an accessible place like a garage or closet in the hallway. It is important that each family member knows the location of the kit. You will need the following things and tools:
- a three-day supply of bottled water and non-perishable food;
- First aid kit with gauze, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, tweezers, ibuprofen or other pain reliever, cotton swabs, antidiarrheal medication, sanitary napkins, and eye lotion
- prescription drugs that your family members regularly take
- flashlight and spare batteries;
- tools including screwdriver and adjustable wrench;
- a whistle to signal rescuers if you are trapped;
- clothes and blankets;
- food and medicine for your pets.
2 Develop plan salvation for your family. You and your family members must have an emergency rescue plan. Tell everyone close to you to lie down, take cover, hold on, and then move to the previously agreed meeting point when the tremors stop.
- Select an open area near your home, school, community center, or refuge as the meeting point.
- Make a collection plan ahead of time as phones may not work after an earthquake.
- Conduct practice drills every 6 months so that every family member is not confused by real danger.
3 Identify safe locations and hazards in each room in your home. Pay special attention to tall cabinets, televisions, dressers, shelves, hanging plants, and other items that can fall and injure people. Explore every room with the whole family to find safe and dangerous places.
- For example, if there is a heavy writing desk in the children's bedroom, tell the children to hide under the table. Tell them not to go near windows and dresser.
4 Store hazardous items in sturdy cabinets or lower shelves. No need to store heavy items on top shelves. You can also fix all tall furniture to the walls with brackets. Store all dangerous items such as sharp objects, glass, flammable and toxic substances in closed cabinets and on lower shelves.
- Knives and corrosive liquids can cause serious injury, especially if dropped from a height during an earthquake.
5 Take first aid courses. If there are victims after the earthquake, then general knowledge of how to provide first aid can save a person's life. Take a training course and learn how to do artificial respiration to provide the necessary assistance if the worst happens.
- Find courses nearby or visit a Red Cross office.
6 Learn to turn off water, electricity and gas. An earthquake can damage communications and cause floods, fires or explosions. If you do not know how to block utilities, then contact service providers for guidance.
- To turn off the electricity, you need to turn off all individual circuits or fuses on the main panel, then turn off the main switch or fuse.
- The gas valve is usually located near the meter, but not always. Use an adjustable wrench to turn the valve a quarter turn clockwise.
- The water supply valve should be located near the water meter on the street or in the building. Turn the tap a quarter turn clockwise to shut off the water.

Tips

Wear sturdy closed-toe shoes to protect your feet from broken glass, stones, and other hazards.
Buy a battery-operated radio to keep up to date with news and directions.
If you are in a wheelchair, it is best to drive into the inner corner away from glass and falling debris. Lock the wheels and try to cover your head, neck and face.
Call emergency services only when really needed. The authorities will be aware of a major earthquake.If you are able to independently figure out the situation or wait for help, then do just that. Telephone lines and emergency services will be needed by people in immediate danger.
At school, you need to listen to the teacher. Typically, you need to tilt your head, find cover under your desk, and try to cover your head and upper body.
If the tremors last more than 20 seconds and a tsunami warning is heard, then you need to leave the coast immediately. There is no need to watch the tsunami or the ocean if the water recedes. This is a signal that huge waves are approaching.

Warnings

Do not try to run outside during an earthquake. If you are indoors, then try to find shelter. On the street, you need to move to an open area.
Don't ignore warnings for tsunamis, floods, landslides and other natural disasters. Do not neglect such alerts in the future if the alarm is found to be false.
If a strong earthquake happened in bad weather, then it is important to take care of warmth and dry things. The emergency kit should include blankets and jackets. Also remember that in hot weather you will need twice as much water.