How to protect yourself when an earthquake occurs

Earthquakes can be said to be one of the most terrible natural disasters, which can destroy human buildings and lives in an instant. After an earthquake, the whole place is in ruins. At this time, we should be careful about aftershocks and a series of complications such as tsunamis that may be caused by the earthquake. If you are trapped after an earthquake, you must be strong and perseverant, and believe that you can be rescued or save yourself. Next, let’s take a look at how to protect yourself from earthquakes!

Earthquake First Aid Methods

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(I) How can people at home protect themselves during an earthquake?

When you feel the ground or building shaking, remember that the greatest danger comes from falling debris. At this time, you must move tactfully to avoid it.

1. If you are in the house, quickly go to a safe place, such as hiding under a desk, workbench, or bed. Inside the unit building. You can choose a small bathroom or corner, and rely on the support of water pipes and gas pipes to reduce casualties. For employees who live in bungalows and have open outdoor areas, they can escape outdoors with a quilt, pillow or helmet on their heads during an earthquake. If they cannot escape in time, it is best to stay indoors to avoid the earthquake. Be sure to stay away from windows. When lying down, lean your head against the wall, with the concave part between the eyes above the nose resting on your horizontal arms. Close your eyes and mouth, and breathe through your nose. Generally speaking, do not run out of the building. It is best to find a safe place nearby to hide. After the earthquake, if evacuation is necessary, leave calmly.

2. During an earthquake, the door frame will be unable to open due to deformation, so it is best not to close the door during the earthquake prevention period. When an earthquake occurs at night, you must race against time to move to a safe place. Do not waste time looking for items or getting dressed. If possible, immediately cut off the power supply, turn off the gas, and extinguish the lights. It is best to use a flashlight for lighting, and do not use open flames such as matches and candles.

3. During an earthquake, if you have been injured or buried under collapsed objects, you should first observe the surrounding environment, look for a passage, and try every possible way to get out. If there is no passage, conserve your energy, do not shout, and listen quietly to the noise outside. If you hear someone walking by, knock on the iron pipe or wall to prevent the sound from spreading out to facilitate rescue. At the same time, they have to find food to sustain life in a small space.

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(II) How do people outdoors protect themselves during an earthquake?

1. People who are outdoors during an earthquake should never risk the shaking of the earth to go into the house to save their loved ones. They can only wait until the earthquake is over and then rescue them in time.

2. If you are walking on the sidewalk next to a tall building, quickly hide at the door of the building to avoid being injured by falling debris.

3. Car drivers should brake on the spot, and train drivers should take emergency braking measures and brake steadily and gradually to ensure the safety of the train and passengers.

4. If you feel an earthquake on a hillside, do not follow the rolling stones down the mountain. Instead, hide behind a small hill on the hillside and stay away from steep cliffs to prevent the threat of collapse, landslides and mudslides.

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(III) How should people working at their posts take personal protection during an earthquake?

Once an earthquake occurs, people at work or in production positions should first close the valves of flammable, explosive, and toxic gases, and individuals should act decisively and quickly to avoid the earthquake according to their environment.

During an earthquake, workers in office buildings should hide under their desks and evacuate quickly through the stairs after the earthquake. Never jump off the building.

There will be a lot of dust after an earthquake, so be sure to cover your mouth and nose with clothes or wet wipes. Move your arms and legs more often and make sure you have enough space to breathe. You can get rescued by knocking on real objects to make sounds, which is also less labor-intensive. If an earthquake occurs indoors, be sure to hide under tables and chairs. If you have the opportunity to run out of the room, run to an open area.