Before an Earthquake
Earthquakes in Hanoi, Vietnam normally never reaches above 5.0 on the Richter scale but it is always good to prepare beforehand just in case of emergencies. Before the next earthquake, get together with your homeroom and set up a prep-plan. Here are some guidelines:
Preparation tools:
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A whistle. A simple tool that can make a loud sound and at the same time is small enough to be worn around your neck. You can bring it everyday to school and keep it with you just in case. Whistle are excellent for rescues because it can help you get attention without loosing much energy. This is extremely important in an event of an earthquake, if you are trapped under amounts of debris, you would need an efficient way to get people's attention without using up too much of the limited amount of oxygen you have. You should have a whistle some where on you at all times.
Here is a video about how to use whistle.
Here is a video about how to use whistle.
Preparation Kit:
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A preparation kit (a.k.a the disaster supplies kit) is a collection of everyday items a group of people would need in the event of an emergency. There should be a preparation kit under/ next to the teacher's desk in every classroom. Some of the basic things that need to be in your kit are:
Water, and lots of it! We recommend having enough water to last an average sized classroom at least two days. It usually takes the Earthquake Rescue two days to find and rescue missing people who were trapped under a collapsed building, and if you are trapped under rubble, the dust will quickly dry your throat and dehydrate you, that is why you would want enough water to last you that period of time. The average number of people in a classroom is 18. So if we were to distribute 1 bottle per person then the teacher should have a box of bottles filled with water next to their desk at all times.
First Aid! If you become involved in an earthquake, their is a high possibility that you might get injuries. It is better to heal the wound right after you get it and not wait for the rescue because it might get infected (if it is an open wound) or it might worsen in some way.
A torch or a flashlight to signal help and/or rescue. A whistle will help the rescue to locate you but in some cases a flashlight is better than a whistle because it is easier to locate the source of a light visually than it is to locate the source of a sound with your ears. Also if you were to be trapped over night, it is good to have a source of light on that is not fire because if there were to be a gas leak somewhere then it would be very dangerous.
Food! Enough to last an average sized class room 2 days. We recommend getting dried up foods like crackers or Instant noodles. Something you can eat easily without having to cook it. You can also store up canned food in your prep-kit but be sure to bring along a can opener. We highly recommend against storing up fresh food (like fruits, or vegetables) in your preparation kit because fresh foods go to waste easily and you wont know when the next disaster is going to strike.
Space blanket (Aluminum Blanket). This helps your body warm as it keeps heat inside it, additionally, it will also protect you from heat. This was made to protect equipment and food inside a space station from extremely high temperatures and extremely low temperatures. The aluminium blanket also keeps your body heat near you because it doesn't absorb heat so it would have to reflect it. This is why space blankets are now a key item in preparation kits around the world. It is now available every where for cheap prices. There should be about 10 space blanket in each preparation kit so that one blanket can be shared between two people.
Water, and lots of it! We recommend having enough water to last an average sized classroom at least two days. It usually takes the Earthquake Rescue two days to find and rescue missing people who were trapped under a collapsed building, and if you are trapped under rubble, the dust will quickly dry your throat and dehydrate you, that is why you would want enough water to last you that period of time. The average number of people in a classroom is 18. So if we were to distribute 1 bottle per person then the teacher should have a box of bottles filled with water next to their desk at all times.
First Aid! If you become involved in an earthquake, their is a high possibility that you might get injuries. It is better to heal the wound right after you get it and not wait for the rescue because it might get infected (if it is an open wound) or it might worsen in some way.
A torch or a flashlight to signal help and/or rescue. A whistle will help the rescue to locate you but in some cases a flashlight is better than a whistle because it is easier to locate the source of a light visually than it is to locate the source of a sound with your ears. Also if you were to be trapped over night, it is good to have a source of light on that is not fire because if there were to be a gas leak somewhere then it would be very dangerous.
Food! Enough to last an average sized class room 2 days. We recommend getting dried up foods like crackers or Instant noodles. Something you can eat easily without having to cook it. You can also store up canned food in your prep-kit but be sure to bring along a can opener. We highly recommend against storing up fresh food (like fruits, or vegetables) in your preparation kit because fresh foods go to waste easily and you wont know when the next disaster is going to strike.
Space blanket (Aluminum Blanket). This helps your body warm as it keeps heat inside it, additionally, it will also protect you from heat. This was made to protect equipment and food inside a space station from extremely high temperatures and extremely low temperatures. The aluminium blanket also keeps your body heat near you because it doesn't absorb heat so it would have to reflect it. This is why space blankets are now a key item in preparation kits around the world. It is now available every where for cheap prices. There should be about 10 space blanket in each preparation kit so that one blanket can be shared between two people.
Daily life preparation
One of the things people often overlook is prepping for a disaster with the little things they do in life. It is great and all to have a kit plan and have drills but there are also little things you can do with your daily routine that will drastically change your chances for survival.
- Do not place heavy objects in high places since they have the potential to fall and hurt someone during an earthquake, instead place them on lower levels. When a heavy object falls from a high place it can easily damage your head. The reason why we have to do this is because when a huge earthquake hits the city of Hanoi, object placed on shelves and high places will fall.Also if you where to put heavy objects at the base of an object then it will help strengthen it's base and will help it stay up. For example if you were to put heavy book at the base of a book shelf it will lessen the chances of the whole shelf falling down and hitting someone.
- Do not place heavy objects in high places since they have the potential to fall and hurt someone during an earthquake, instead place them on lower levels. When a heavy object falls from a high place it can easily damage your head. The reason why we have to do this is because when a huge earthquake hits the city of Hanoi, object placed on shelves and high places will fall.Also if you where to put heavy objects at the base of an object then it will help strengthen it's base and will help it stay up. For example if you were to put heavy book at the base of a book shelf it will lessen the chances of the whole shelf falling down and hitting someone.
Strengthen furniture (e.x. tables, bookshelves, white board) with nails and/or long wooden poles. The poles can be used by placing them between the furniture and the wall so that the space between then would be used up and thus making the furniture stable and more resistant to shaking.
- Do not place things near the door, especially if the door opens to only one way. When a disaster strikes and the shaking starts to happen
heavy things may collapse or slide blocking the door way. The door should always be open so that you will always have a way to escape out of the building. Instead place these heavy objects near or in the base of high and heavy furniture so that it will strengthen the base and keep the furniture from falling.
heavy things may collapse or slide blocking the door way. The door should always be open so that you will always have a way to escape out of the building. Instead place these heavy objects near or in the base of high and heavy furniture so that it will strengthen the base and keep the furniture from falling.
Practice disaster drills with each class and occasionally with the whole school. By practicing drills frequently during class time, the students and the faculty will know exactly what to do so when an actual disaster strikes then no one will panic and cause utter chaos, during which someone could get hurt from being trampled upon.
Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections monthly. Regular maintenance of electricity and gas usage in the school can help reduce the chances of secondary because of gas leakage during an earthquake. Instead install flexible pipe fittings to avoid gas or water leaks. Flexible fittings are more resistant to breakage.
Evacuation Plan
One of the key things to know when a disaster hits the school is to know where to go and to know that you must first familiarize yourself with the parts of UNIS that are safe and the parts that you should avoid.
Canteen:
One of the most dangerous buildings in the campus is the Canteen, especially during a disaster. The canteen is a place where the staff cook our lunch and therefore it has a lot of gas pipes for kitchen fire. This could easily cause an explosion and a fire so it is best to steer clear of the canteen.
Track Field:
The track field is also another place to avoid. UNIS ground was originally a huge field of rice so that would mean that the ground under our school campus is very week and very vulnerable to liquid faction. Therefore it is better to be on higher grounds where the chances of the ground breaking up and flooding is less.
Science lab:
If you have ever been to a science lab then you would have seen the various number of toxic chemicals and acids that could easily spill and harm someone, and you must have also seen the numerous number of gas pipes and Bunsen burners around the lab that can easily set the whole lab ablaze in an explosion. These are the reasons why the science labs are one of the places to keep away when an earthquake happens.
The Design Technology class:
Inside the D.T class students learn about carpentry, wood-work and they also learn how to work with plastic. To learn these skills they would need laser cutters to cut the plastic plates into the shape that they want and they must also use hand saws and wood cutters for the wood. All of these tools are dangerous even without a disaster happening so it is best to stay away from the Design Tech. room when an earthquake happens on the school campus.
One of the most dangerous buildings in the campus is the Canteen, especially during a disaster. The canteen is a place where the staff cook our lunch and therefore it has a lot of gas pipes for kitchen fire. This could easily cause an explosion and a fire so it is best to steer clear of the canteen.
Track Field:
The track field is also another place to avoid. UNIS ground was originally a huge field of rice so that would mean that the ground under our school campus is very week and very vulnerable to liquid faction. Therefore it is better to be on higher grounds where the chances of the ground breaking up and flooding is less.
Science lab:
If you have ever been to a science lab then you would have seen the various number of toxic chemicals and acids that could easily spill and harm someone, and you must have also seen the numerous number of gas pipes and Bunsen burners around the lab that can easily set the whole lab ablaze in an explosion. These are the reasons why the science labs are one of the places to keep away when an earthquake happens.
The Design Technology class:
Inside the D.T class students learn about carpentry, wood-work and they also learn how to work with plastic. To learn these skills they would need laser cutters to cut the plastic plates into the shape that they want and they must also use hand saws and wood cutters for the wood. All of these tools are dangerous even without a disaster happening so it is best to stay away from the Design Tech. room when an earthquake happens on the school campus.
All in all, the best way to prepare yourself and the people around you for a disaster is to EDUCATE them.
Also you have to discus about where to meet after an earthquake with your family; decide a place where your family will meet when an earthquake happens (e.x. school) in case you might not have any connection.
Also you have to discus about where to meet after an earthquake with your family; decide a place where your family will meet when an earthquake happens (e.x. school) in case you might not have any connection.