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SAFETY
ANO
SURVIVALIN
AN EARTHQUAKE
The Plain Truth research staff provides the
following basic earthquake safety rules as a public
service. You may wish to postor keep them for
future reference.
Few casualties come from the actual ground
movement of an earthquake. Most result from
falling objects and debris, tires, and uncontrolled
panic. No rules can eliminate al/ earthquake
dangers, but the following rules can greatly reduce
injuries and damage.
BEFORE AN EARTHQUAKE
1. Support local safe building codes
with efficient inspection and en–
forcement for schools. offices. homes.
etc.
2.
Support and encourage earth–
q
uake drill s a nd training for
schoo ls, work areas. and homes.
3.
As a homeowner or tenant: Fas–
ten shclves to walls. Remove heavy
objects from upper shelves unless
they are restrained. Place breakable
or valuable items in a sa fe place.
Remove or securely fasten high ,
Ioose objects, as well as heavy ob–
jects above beds. lf you have defec–
tive wiring or leaky gas connections,
replace thern. You could thereby
save your home. Bo lt down water
hea ters and o ther gas appliances.
4.
Teach membcrs of your family
how to turn off electricity, gas, and
wa ter a t main switches and valves.
5.
Ma intain a n up- to-date medica!
kit. Prov id e responsible family
members with basic first-aid instruc–
tion because medica ! facilities could
be ove rwhelmed immedia tely after
a severe quake. Keep a flashlight
and a battery-powered radio in the
house.
6.
Conduct calm fa
m
ily discuss ions
a bou t eart hqu a kes and re la ted
problems. Do not tell fr ightening
stories about disasters.
7.
Think about what you would do
if a n ea rthquake struck when you
were a t home, in a car. a t work, in a
store. in a public hall. or outside .
Your prior planning may enabl e
you to act ca lmly, safcly a nd con–
structively in an emergency a nd en–
able you to help o thers.
The
PLAIN TRUTH September 1976
DURING AN EARTHQUAKE
1.
Remain calm a/'. possible. Think
through the consequences ofany ac–
tion. Calm a nd reassure oth ers.
2.
lf indoors. watch for falling plas–
ter, bricks, Iight fixtures, and ot her
objects. Stay away from windows,
mirrors, chimneys, and ou ter walls.
If in danger. get under a table, desk.
bed, or a strong doorway. School
children s hould be taught to get un–
der desks. Usually
it
is no t best to
run outside. The one exception may
be if you are in a heavy. poorly
constructed old bui lding.
3.
In
a
high-rise office building. ge t
under a desk. Do not dash for exits;
sta irwe ll s may be jammed with
people or broken. Power for cleva–
tors may fail.
4.
If outside, avoid high buildings,
walls, powe r poles, a nd objects that
co uld fall. Do not run through the
streets. lf possible. move away from
all hazards. lf you're in an au tomo–
bile, stop in the safest place and stay
in your automobile (because you a re
encased in steel).
5.
Never be stampeded into leav ing
an upright building merely because
it
groans horribly or cracks appear
and plaste r fa lls. If collapse is obvi–
ously imminent, you may need todo
something else. (Collapse of a build–
ing is generally indicated by walls
falling as a unit.)
AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
1.
Check for injuries. Do not a t–
tempt to move seriously injured per–
sons unless they're in immediate
danger of further injury. Wear shoes
to avoid foo t injuries from debris
and glass.
2.
Shut off all damaged electrical
and gas lines. Do no t ope rate light
sw itches, use matches, or open
llame a ppliances if you suspect that
there a re a ny gas leaks. Do not
touch downed power lines.
3.
If wa ter is off, emergency water
may be obtained from water heat–
ers, toilet tanks. ice cubes, canned
vegetables, and even radiators of
cars. (Wa ter from radiators should
not be used fo r drinking as it may
co n tain antifreeze.) Check to see if
sewage lines a re intact before per–
mitting the tlushing 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 to believe them. Rumors can
cause great hann and panic follow–
ing disasters.
6.
Do not go sight-seeing immedi–
ate ly. Keep st reets clear for emer–
gency vehicl es.
7.
Be prepared for additional afler–
shocks. Although usually smaller,
they may be large enough to cause
further damage to weakened struc–
tures .
8.
Watch out for and stay clear of
tidal waves and Iandslides in certain
areas.
9.
Help police, tire fighters. civ il de–
fense or relief units only if req uested
to do so. Otherwise stay ou t of dam–
aged areas.
10.
Make thorough check of your
home for c r acks or leaks in
chimneys, utility connections, or
o ther weakened par ts of th e home
that could cause future .tires.
asphyxiation, o r damage.
O
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