Courtesy of www.Shakeout.org

Official rescue teams from the U.S. and other countries who have searched for trapped people in collapsed structures around the world, as well as emergency managers, researchers, and school safety advocates, all agree that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. Methods like standing in a doorway, running outside, and the “triangle of life” method are considered dangerous and are not recommended.

What To Do Immediately When Shaking Begins:  Your past experience in earthquakes may give you a false sense of safety; you most likely have never experienced the kind of strong earthquake shaking that is possible in much larger earthquakes.  Sudden and intense back and forth motions of several feet per second will cause the floor or the ground to jerk sideways out from under you, and every unsecured object around you could topple, fall, or become airborne, potentially causing serious injury. This is why you must learn to immediately protect yourself after the first jolt – don’t wait to see if the shaking will increase in severity.

DROP down onto your hands and knees (before the earthquake knocks you down). This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary.

COVER your head and neck with both arms, clasping your neck with your hands. If a study desk or table is nearby, crawl beneath it while keeping one arm over your head. If there is no shelter nearby, only then should you get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won’t fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands).

HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around.

During earthquakes, the area near the exterior walls of a building is the most dangerous place to be. Windows, facades and architectural details are often the first parts of the building to collapse. Also avoid hanging objects, mirrors, tall furniture, large appliances, and heavy objects with glass.  If you are inside, do not go outside.

If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow. You are less likely to be injured staying where you are. Broken glass on the floor has caused injury to those who have rolled to the floor or tried to get to doorways.

In a high-rise, Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Avoid windows and other hazards. Do not use elevators. Do not be surprised if sprinkler systems or fire alarms activate.

If you are outdoors, move to a clear area if you can safely do so; avoid power lines, trees, signs, buildings, vehicles, and other hazards.

If you are driving, pull over to the side of the road, stop, and set the parking brake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over. If a power line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.

In a stadium or theater, stay in your seat and protect your head and neck with your arms. Don’t try to leave until the shaking is over, and then walk out slowly, watching for anything that could fall in the aftershocks.

If you are near the shore, Drop, Cover, and Hold On until the shaking stops. Estimate how long the shaking lasts. If severe shaking lasts 20 seconds or more, immediately evacuate to higher ground as a tsunami might have been generated by the earthquake. Move inland two miles, or to land that is at least 100 feet above sea level.  Do not wait for officials to issue a warning. Walk quickly, rather than drive, to avoid traffic, debris and other hazards

For more information, visit http://www.shakeout.org.