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SAFETY
ANO
SURVIVAL IN
AN EARTHQUAKE
The Plain Truth provides the following basic
earthquake safety rules as a public service. You may
wish to post or keep them for future reference.
Few casualties come from the actual ground movement of
an earthquake. Most result from falling objects and
debrls, tires and uncontrolled panic. No rules can
ellminate all earthquake dangers, but the following rules
can greatly reduce injuries and damage.
Before an Earthquake
1.
Support local safe building cedes with
enforcement for schools, offices, homes.
2.
Support and encourage earthquake
drills and training for schools, work areas
and homes.
3. As a homeowner or tenant: Fasten
shelves to walls. Remove heavy objects
from upper shelves unless they are
restrained . Place breakable or valuable
items in a sale place. Remove or
securely lasten high, loose objects, as
well as heavy objects above beds. lf you
have detective wiring or leaky gas
connections, replace them. You could
thereby save your home. Bolt down
water heaters and other gas appliances.
4.
Teaeh members of your family how to
turn off electricity, gas and water at main
switches and valves.
5.
Maintain at leas! three days supply of
storable food and bottled water. Maintain
an up-to-date medica! kit. Provide
responsible family members with basic
ftrst-aid instruction because medica!
faci lities could be overwhelmed
immediately alter a severe quake. Keep
at hand a flashlight and a
battery-powered radio in the house .
6.
Conduct calm family discussions
about earthquakes and related problems.
Do not tell frightening stories about
disasters.
7.
Think about what you would do if an
earthquake struck when you were at
home, in a car, at work, in a store, in a
public hall or outside. Your prior planning
will help you to act calmly, safely and
constructively in an emergency and
enable you to help others.
During an Earthquake
1.
Remain as calm as possible. Think
through the consequences of any action.
Calm and reassure others.
2 .
lf indoors, watch for falling plaster,
bricks, light ftxtures and other objects.
Stay away from windows, mirrors.
chimneys and outer walls.
lf
in danger,
get under a table, desk, bed or a strong
doorway. School children should be
taught to get under desks. Usually it is
not best to run outside. The one
exception may be if you are in a heavy,
poorly constructed old building.
3.
In a high-rise office building, gel under
a desk . Do not dash for exits; stairwells
may be jammed with people or broken.
Power for elevators may fail.
4.
lf outside, avoid high buildings, walls,
power poles and objects that could fall.
Do not run through the streets. lf
possible, move away from all hazards. lf
you're in an automobile, stop in the
safest place and stay in your automobile
(because you are encased in steel).
5.
Never be stampeded into leaving an
upright building merely because it groans
horribly or cracks appear and plaster
falls. lf collapse is obviously imminent,
you may need to vacate the building.
(Collapse of a building is generally
indicated by walls fall ing as a unit.)
After an Earthquake
1.
Check for injuries. Do not attempt to
move seriously injured persons unless
they're in immediate danger of further
injury. Wear shoes to avoid foot injuries
from debris and glass.
2.
Shut off all damaged electrical and
gas lines. Do not operate light switches,
use either matches or open flame
appliances until you check for and rule
out gas leaks. Do not touch downed
power lines.
3. lf water is off, emergency water may
be obtained trom water heaters, toilet
tanks, ice cubes. canned vegetables and
even radiators of cars. (Water from
radiators should not be used for drinking
as it may contain antifreeze.) Check to
see if sewage lines are intact before
permitting the flushing of toilets.
4.
Do not use your telephone except for
genuine emergency calls. Turn on radio
for information.
5 .
Do not spread rumors or be quick lo
believe them. Rumors can cause great
harm and panic following disasters.
6 .
Do not immediately go sight-seeing.
Keep streets clear for emergency
vehicles.
7.
Be prepared for additional
aftershocks. Although usually smaller,
they may be large enough to cause
further damage to weakened structures,
especially masonry structures.
8.
Watch out tor and stay clear of areas
of potential tidal waves or landslides.
9.
Help police, tire tighters, civil defense
or relief units only if requested to do so.
Otherwise stay out of damaged areas.
10.
Make thorough check of your home
for cracks or leaks in chimneys, utility
connections or other weakened parts of
the home that could cause future tires,
asphyxiation or further damage.