Safety Tips

As a nation, we need to deal with disasters that come upon our country. Typhoons,
rains, and floods are all familiar to us. And since the possibility of earthquakes is always
present, schools hold earthquake drills and specific government agencies are tasked to
set up earthquake preparedness plans.

Earthquakes are sudden and brief but they wreak immense damage. Earthquake
preparedness at home, in school, or office should be part of our civic and disaster
consciousness. Coping with earthquakes requires knowing what to do before, during and
after an earthquake. More than being an individual affair, earthquake preparedness
involves the community as well.

What to Do Before an Earthquake

1. Prepare and keep an emergency kit. Plan a system of communication with your
family.
2. Fix shelves securely to walls and place large or heavy objects or lower shelves.
3. Store breakable items such as bottled food, glass and china in low, closed
cabinets.
4. Fasten heavy items such as pictures and mirrors securely to walls and away from
beds, sofas and other areas where people usually linger.
5. Secure overhead light fixtures heavy objects fastened on ceilings.
6. Repair defective electrical wirings.
7. Install flexible pipe fittings to avoid water leaks. Flexible fittings are more resistant
to breakage.
8. Check and fix structural defects of the house. The house itself must be firmly
anchored to its foundation.
9. Hold earthquake drills with your family members. Practice “duck, cover and hold.”
10. Locate safe spots in each room under a sturdy table or against inside wall.
Reinforce this information by moving to these places during each drill.

What to Do During an Earthquake

If you are indoors….

1. DUCK and take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of
furniture; and HOLD on to something sturdy until the shaking stops. If there isn’t
a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and head and
crouch in an inside corner of the building. Stay there until the shaking has
stopped and when you are sure going out safe.
2. Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could
fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
3. Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your
head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy fixture that could fall. In that case,
move to the nearest safe place.
4. Do not use a doorway except if you know it is strongly supported, load-bearing
doorway and it is close to you. Many inside doorways are lightly constructed and
do not offer protection.
5. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Do not leave a
building during the shaking. Most injuries occur when people inside buildings
attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
6. Do not use the elevators.
7. Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may
turn on. Do not panic if these occur.

If you are outdoors…

1. Stay there.
2. Move away from buildings, streetlights and electric wires.
3. Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists
directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Ground
movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury.
Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass and
falling objects.

If you are in a moving vehicle…

1. Stop as quickly as you can and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or
under buildings, trees, overpasses and electric wires.
2. Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges or
ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If you are trapped under a debris…

1. Do not light a match.

2. Do not move about or kick up dust.
3. Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
4. Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is
available.

What to Do After an Earthquake

1. When the shaking stops, look around to make sure it is safe to move. Then exit
the building.
2. Expect aftershocks. These secondary shock waves are usually less violent
than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to
weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks or even
months after the quake.
3. Help injured or trapped persons. Remember to help those who may require
special assistance. These are the infants, the elderly, and people with access
and functional needs. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously
injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for
help.
4. Look for and extinguish small fires. Fire is the most common hazard after an
earthquake.
5. Listen to a radio or television for the latest emergency information.
6. Be aware of possible tsunamis if you live in coastal areas. When local
authorities issue a tsunami warning, assume that a series of dangerous waves
is on the way. Stay away from the beach.
7. Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Unnecessary calls may clog the
telephone system and prevent others from making their own emergency calls.
8. Stay away from damaged areas unless your assistance has been specifically
requested by police, fire or relief organizations. Return home only when the
authorities say it is safe to do so.
9. Be careful when driving after an earthquake. Roads may have been damaged
by the earthquake. Debris may be blocking the roads.
10. After it is determined that it is safe to return, your safety should still be your
primary priority as you begin to clean up.
11. Open cabinets cautiously. Objects can fall off shelves.
12. Find out how to keep food safe during and after an emergency.
13. Put on long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes, and work gloves to
protect yourself against injury from broken objects.
14. Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids
immediately. Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from chemicals.
15. Inspect utilities for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing sounds,
open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas tanks.
16. Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or torn wires,
or if you smell something that seems to come from an electrical source, turn off
the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Make sure you are not
stepping on water when you touch the fuse box or circuit breaker.

Prepared by: MARIANNE C. SERRANO

Science Teacher

Source: Breaking Through Science 8 pp. 12