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Surviving An Earthquake

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Surviving An Earthquake

Mark Benthien (Director of Communication, Education, and Outreach, Southern California Earthquake Center ) gives expert video advice on: What are the safest places inside during an earthquake?; Will standing under a door frame adequately protect me during an earthquake? and more...

What is the "Drop, Cover, and Hold" method?

During an earthquake, drop, cover and hold, anywhere you are, is the best thing to do. Drop to the ground before the earthquake drops you, as you won't be able to walk around much during the strong shaking. Take cover if possible underneath a desk or table or other strong sturdy. Cover your head with your hands and arms and hold onto what you're underneath as it might start to move, and you want to make sure you're moving with it. That is the drop, cover and hold method you ought to use during an earthquake.

What are the safest places inside during an earthquake?

If you're inside during an earthquake, some of the safest places you can be are underneath sturdy tables or desks that are going to protect you from things that might be falling during an earthquake. You also want to be away from windows or framed art that has glass that may be shattering during the earthquake. It's best to be towards the interior of a room and, again, underneath something. If not, just drop, cover and hold on and ride out the earthquake.

Will standing under a door frame adequately protect me during an earthquake?

We no longer recommend that people get in a doorframe during an earthquake. It really doesn't provide that much protection from falling objects such as ceiling tiles or lights. Also, it's quite likely you'll not be able to stand during the earthquake to begin with. There have been cases where people put their hands on the doorframes, the door's closing and they've got their fingers pinched. People are coming into the door, closing the door - it kind of cause problems. Basically, you want to drop, cover and hold on. Get under something else if possible. If not, just sit next to an interior wall through the earthquake.

What is the "triangle of life" earthquake shelter?

The triangle of life is a concept based upon the notion of the survivable void space. It's where firefighters are trained to look for people who survived an earthquake. The problem is, it's very difficult to predict in advance how a building is going to collapse and where those spaces are going to be. That's why we focus more on protecting yourself from things falling within your home during an earthquake, which are much more likely to injure you and much more common. That's what the drop, cover and hold on position is designed to protect you from.

Is it safer to be indoors or outdoors during an earthquake?

During an earthquake, if you're indoors, stay indoors. Don't try to go outside where things may be falling off your building. If you're outdoors, as long as you're not underneath power lines or other things that might be falling, you're pretty safe. Just get down low and ride out the earthquake.

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Tips & Comments
  1. amerrescue

    go to www.amerrescue.org and discover that this video is false when it states that it is difficult to know where a survivable void will be. It is NEXT TO a big object. doug copp founder of ARTI ( the world's most experienced rescue and disaster mitigation/management organization) and the Discoverer of the 'triangle of life' to take building collapse survivability from 2% using 'duck and cover' to 90% using the 'triangle of life' ARTI is All Unpaid Volunteers willing to stand up to and fight USA insurance companies and bureaucrats who consider it cheaper and less trouble if victims die rather than survive with possible trauma and sue ( less profit for insurance companies and higher premiums for bureaucrats) "Now, that my 911 injuries have made it impossible for me, to crawl into collapsed buildings, I thank God for allowing me to continue saving lives. I am willing to sacrifice my life, my health, my reputation and endure any attack, slander, burden or harm to fulfill this life purpose. PERIOD." see www.amerrescue.org for hundreds of pages of testimonials, videos, docs. Complete information to survive major disaster, learned from doug's searching 896 collapsed buildings and witnessing 1+ million collapsed buildings, at more than 100 major disaster events; throughout the entire world...amerrescue@aol.com www.amerrescue.org or our eye opening blog at www.dougcopp.wordpress.com/ 1-902-567-1227 home

  2. ronindotca

    I've just survived a 7.1 earthquake (our last aftershock was an hour and a half ago - the main quake 6 days ago) and this bs about the triangle of life is utter rubbish. The peak of my house (where the "triangle of life" would be) is pretty much under our chimney. You know, the great big bloody pile of bricks that would fall on me and kill me? Civil Defense NZ, the NZ fire service and the NZ Red Cross all confirm that drop and cover is the way to go.

  3. windandwildflower

    Agree. American Red Cross also have confirmed the same that Drop & Cover is the life saving technique instead of looking for the triangle in the life and death situation.

  4. Anonymous

    This is NOT outdated. There have been countless studies about The Triangle of Life and it has been discredited by seismologists and survival experts around the world. It is a fancy theory devised by an ill-informed gentleman who uses his lawyers to promote his idea. KEEP SAFE, always stay under a sturdy desk or table. You WILL NOT have enough time to "look" for a triangle, nor can you ever be certain that there will be a triangle of life formed around you. There are no Triangles of Life except those that precious few have been lucky enough to have formed around during a building collapse. Duck And Cover is the proper technique. Thanks!

  5. Anonymous

    This is outdated. Getting under tables and other stuff will most probably kill you. READ ABOUT THE TRIANGLE OF LIFE. that will save your life in an earthquake.

  6. Anonymous

    it help a lot