During an Earthquake
One of the most dangerous things to do during an earthquake (or any emergency for that matter) is to panic. Panicking leads to disorder which leads to chaos, during that chaos someone might get hurt. In this guide we will show you what to do during an emergency so that the next time the ground starts to shake, you and the people around you will know exactly what to do.
Drop, Cover and Hold! [Inside the Classroom]
![Picture](/uploads/1/4/1/5/14155436/9200793.png?1)
Reading this, you have likely never experience a strong earthquake that is capable of sudden intense shaking of several feet per second that causes the ground to jerk sideways from under you. Shaking of this magnitude can cause every object beside you to topple, fall and potentially causing serious injury. This is why you must know what to do immediately after the ground starts shaking. It is better to overreact than to get hurt.
- DROP down on your HANDS and KNEES before the earthquake has a chance to knock you down itself. This position keeps you from falling but allows you to move if needed. It also protects most of the vital organs.
- COVER your entire body, especially your neck and head under something sturdy like a desk or a table. If there is no shelter nearby where you can fit your whole body in, ONLY then should you get near low lying furniture that wont fall on you. Then you should use your hands and arms to protect your neck and head.
- HOLD on to your shelter (or your neck and head) until the shaking has completely stopped. If your shelter should move, so should you so that you can remain under it.
However, when you do not find any nearby tables to duck under or the table is too far from you, it is more safer to cover your head and neck with your arms and hands and stay near the interior wall of the building. Most injuries occur when people try to quickly run or escape to a different location or try to get out of the room while the earthquake is still happening because it makes you vulnerable to falling objects. So there fore it is a lot safer to remain stationary.
DO NOT STAND IN A DOORWAY! A picture was taken in California where an old adobe wooden house is completely collapsed by the earth quake with the door frame still intact. From this came the belief that doorways are one of the strongest structures in the house. This is only true for old houses but in modern structures, the doorway is just as vulnerable as the rest of the building and the door way wouldn't help protect you from flying or falling objects. You are safer under a table.
DO NOT STAND IN A DOORWAY! A picture was taken in California where an old adobe wooden house is completely collapsed by the earth quake with the door frame still intact. From this came the belief that doorways are one of the strongest structures in the house. This is only true for old houses but in modern structures, the doorway is just as vulnerable as the rest of the building and the door way wouldn't help protect you from flying or falling objects. You are safer under a table.
Outside of the Classroom:
On the stairs:
If you're walking on the stairs when an earthquake occurs, you should immediately sit right down on the step you're taking. You should maintain a sitting fetal position while one hand should be holding the handrail and the other hand should cover your neck and head. It is a lot more dangerous if you were try to run off the stairs while an earthquake happens. The constant rapid shaking of the ground might cause you to fall of the stairs.
If you're walking on the stairs when an earthquake occurs, you should immediately sit right down on the step you're taking. You should maintain a sitting fetal position while one hand should be holding the handrail and the other hand should cover your neck and head. It is a lot more dangerous if you were try to run off the stairs while an earthquake happens. The constant rapid shaking of the ground might cause you to fall of the stairs.
Outside:
If you happen to be walking outside of a classroom you should cover your head and neck with your bag (If you do not have a bag, cover with your hands). You should try to get away from tall or large buildings for they might collapse on you. However, if you are surrounded by tall buildings and you can not get away from them then get into the classrooms nearest you.
If you happen to be walking outside of a classroom you should cover your head and neck with your bag (If you do not have a bag, cover with your hands). You should try to get away from tall or large buildings for they might collapse on you. However, if you are surrounded by tall buildings and you can not get away from them then get into the classrooms nearest you.
On the Loo:
Most people think that they have to get out of a bathroom when an earthquake happens. However, it is more dangerous to get out than to stay inside. Since bathrooms are small rooms, the structure is actually safer than most rooms. What you have to do is to open the door halfway, holding the doorknob with one hand while the other hand should be covering your neck and head. If you are too far from a door then stay beside an interior wall. Do not go near windows or mirrors since glass will shatter in the event of an earthquake.
In the canteen:
Drop, Cover and Hold to be sure you are protecting your whole body. Try to avoid the kitchen and glass doors and windows as much as possible because they are the most dangerous parts of the canteen. When the shaking of the earth has stopped, try to move out of the canteen quickly moving the table with you so that it can protect you of any falling debris. You would want to move out of the canteen as quickly as possible.
In the school bus:
When you are sitting on the bus during an earthquake, immediately bend over your sent so that you are facing down. This will help protect your face from shattering window glass. Cover your head and neck with your arms and hands so that if the glass where to fall on you, the worst it would do is scar your arm and not kill you. When you've felt that the shaking has stopped then slowly get of the bus.
In the swimming pool:If you feel the water moving back and forth in a strong motion then you must know that an earthquake is happening. Immediately get out of the swimming pool as quickly as possible and lay flat on the ground with one arm covering your neck and head and the other holding on to the edge of the pool or holding on to the railing for stability. Laying flat on the ground will help prevent you from falling back into the pool. DO NOT STAY IN THE SWIMMING POOL! It is extremely dangerous to stay in a big body of water because you cannot control the motions of the waves and if you aren't out by the time the stronger waves hit UNIS then being in the pool will feel like being in a tidal wave. Also it is very easy for you to bump your head against the wall of the pool when there is strong shaking under the ground. After that, alert everyone else that an earthquake is happening and move to an open area. Keep your body low and cover your head with your hands.
Most people think that they have to get out of a bathroom when an earthquake happens. However, it is more dangerous to get out than to stay inside. Since bathrooms are small rooms, the structure is actually safer than most rooms. What you have to do is to open the door halfway, holding the doorknob with one hand while the other hand should be covering your neck and head. If you are too far from a door then stay beside an interior wall. Do not go near windows or mirrors since glass will shatter in the event of an earthquake.
In the canteen:
Drop, Cover and Hold to be sure you are protecting your whole body. Try to avoid the kitchen and glass doors and windows as much as possible because they are the most dangerous parts of the canteen. When the shaking of the earth has stopped, try to move out of the canteen quickly moving the table with you so that it can protect you of any falling debris. You would want to move out of the canteen as quickly as possible.
In the school bus:
When you are sitting on the bus during an earthquake, immediately bend over your sent so that you are facing down. This will help protect your face from shattering window glass. Cover your head and neck with your arms and hands so that if the glass where to fall on you, the worst it would do is scar your arm and not kill you. When you've felt that the shaking has stopped then slowly get of the bus.
In the swimming pool:If you feel the water moving back and forth in a strong motion then you must know that an earthquake is happening. Immediately get out of the swimming pool as quickly as possible and lay flat on the ground with one arm covering your neck and head and the other holding on to the edge of the pool or holding on to the railing for stability. Laying flat on the ground will help prevent you from falling back into the pool. DO NOT STAY IN THE SWIMMING POOL! It is extremely dangerous to stay in a big body of water because you cannot control the motions of the waves and if you aren't out by the time the stronger waves hit UNIS then being in the pool will feel like being in a tidal wave. Also it is very easy for you to bump your head against the wall of the pool when there is strong shaking under the ground. After that, alert everyone else that an earthquake is happening and move to an open area. Keep your body low and cover your head with your hands.
Where/What should you avoid?
Tall buildings:
"The bigger they are the harder they fall". This quote is very true in the situation where you have tall buildings during an earthquake. Especially the buildings in Hanoi which are not build to withstand a strong earthquake.
Doors and windows that are made out of glass:
They shatter easily and will do damage and cause a lot of injuries if you happen to be near them at the wrong time. If you're in a situation where you cannot get away from windows and doors of glass then the most important part of your body to protect is your face, head and neck.
Cover roofs:
The poles that are used to hold up the roof are week and they cannot withstand an earthquake. That is why when disaster strikes the school the poles holding the cover roofs up with snap and the roof will fall down, anybody caught under it will be injured and/or trapped.
Do not run, push people, scream or talk loudly (or else you will not be able to hear the teacher's instructions) and especially do not go back to get your belongings. Nothing is worth your life.
The lights :
When they fall and brake on the floor it might injure you even though your whole body was covered by a table.
"The bigger they are the harder they fall". This quote is very true in the situation where you have tall buildings during an earthquake. Especially the buildings in Hanoi which are not build to withstand a strong earthquake.
Doors and windows that are made out of glass:
They shatter easily and will do damage and cause a lot of injuries if you happen to be near them at the wrong time. If you're in a situation where you cannot get away from windows and doors of glass then the most important part of your body to protect is your face, head and neck.
Cover roofs:
The poles that are used to hold up the roof are week and they cannot withstand an earthquake. That is why when disaster strikes the school the poles holding the cover roofs up with snap and the roof will fall down, anybody caught under it will be injured and/or trapped.
Do not run, push people, scream or talk loudly (or else you will not be able to hear the teacher's instructions) and especially do not go back to get your belongings. Nothing is worth your life.
The lights :
When they fall and brake on the floor it might injure you even though your whole body was covered by a table.
The best thing to do during an earthquake is to remember to not panic and follow the safety procedures above. It is also very important to follow the teacher's and the group's instructions but there are also times when it is "every man for himself". You cannot help if you are injured yourself.