Earthquake Safety

A rumble.  A shudder.  Suddenly, a crash and a powerful shake that almost knocks you to the ground.  If you live in California you know what’s happening.  It’s an earthquake!  Earthquakes are deadly and extremely dangerous—all the more so if you don’t have an earthquake safety plan in place.

The key to being safe during an earthquake lies in preparation and quick reaction. If you have no plan of action and are simply screaming in terror then it will be more difficult to come out of the disaster alive and uninjured. Here are some earthquake safety tips to remember.

Have in mind a safe place for every single room in your house. When an earthquake is striking and everything around you is in disarray, you don’t have time to flee to a safer part of the house. A safe place might be underneath a desk or a table, any place where you can protect yourself against flying objects. A doorway is also a protection (just watch your fingers!) and an inside wall will also suffice. Your mission is to avoid getting hit, so go somewhere safe where a dozen heavy objects won’t fall on you.

Another suggestion in earthquake safety is to practice the concept of “drop, cover and hold on.” Practice well in advance of an earthquake—in fact, a few times a year might be a good idea. Consider it like a fire drill and make it part of your earthquake safety plan. Drop under a sturdy desk or table, cover your eyes from any flying objects, and hold on tightly. Remember the key words and teach children the same lessons. When there’s an earthquake, “Drop, Cover and Hold On!”

Taking an American Red Cross first aid class is a great idea, in case someone in your family gets injured during an earthquake or any natural disaster. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher. Consider bolting down shelves, oil heaters, and other heavy furniture to the walls with nails. While it seems pointless in times of calm, in an earthquake it might make a difference that could save your life. Earthquake safety involves thinking about what might happen beforehand.

In case your home is heavily impacted, you can keep on hand necessities like food, water, water purification tablets, first aid kits, medicine, flashlights and radios. You can actually purchase many of these essentials together in an earthquake safety kit.

Finally, after surviving such a traumatic experience as an earthquake, although you will be shaken, it’s important to remember to contact friends and family as soon as possible informing them of your well-being. It’s a good idea to place their numbers in your earthquake safety kit. It’s preferable that you have contacts outside the city, because sometimes an earthquake can cause the loss of your telephone and electricity. Earthquake safety involves protecting not only yourself but also others whom you care about.