How do we Protect Ourselves During Earthquakes?

Due to the recent earthquakes, many people were extremely shocked and did not know what to do in such a sudden situation.  The continuous earthquakes that first started on July 4th, have been in the magnitude range of 2.9 all the way to 6.6. Depending on the magnitude, the way that people feel them may be different, but people could feel the ones in the higher magnitude range.  So, how do we prevent ourselves from being in great danger during these natural disasters?

First, what you should do if you are indoors at the time of an earthquake.  The most important step to take is to drop, cover, and hold on. This means that you should get on the ground, cover your head and body by getting under a sturdy table or piece of furniture, and holding on until the shaking stops.  In the case of there being no table or furniture to cover you, you must cover your head with your arms and find an inside corner to crouch in. 

 

Another crucial step to take is to make sure that you are away from glass, windows, anything that could fall, walls, and doors.  This decreases the risk of anything falling on you, which could lead to various injuries. After the shaking stops, make sure that the shaking has completely stopped, and you are safe to move outside.  

As soon as it is completely clear for you to go outside, never use elevators, and use a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway to make your exit.  It is always safer to use stairs if you are in a tall building instead of elevators which can cause more accidents. The last step is to make sure that you stay away from damaged areas and dangerous buildings just to make sure that if another earthquake happens, you are not in a perilous situation.

Secondly, the steps you should take when you are outside during an earthquake.  Once you are outside, you must stay there until the shaking stops. Then, check your surroundings and make sure that you are not near buildings, utility wires, or streetlights.  Since the greatest danger lies alongside exterior walls, directly outside buildings, and exits, people outside must be extremely careful when they decide where they are going to be while the earthquake is happening.  One wrong decision could lead to an enormous amount of accidents, so thinking smart and helping each other are the ideal behaviors that reduce the risk of getting hurt.

Third, the actions you should take if you are in a moving vehicle during an earthquake.  The steps that should be taken in this situation are very simple. If you feel an earthquake while you are driving, the first thing to do is stop quickly and stay inside the vehicle.  However, when you stop, avoiding halting under overpasses, utility wires, trees, and buildings will decrease the amount of danger that you are in. After the earthquake, as soon as the shaking has stopped and it is safe to continue driving, it is completely secure enough to do so.  When driving again, there may be ramps, bridges, and roads that have been damaged, so avoiding those would keep you under safety.  

 

Although there are many specific steps one must take during an earthquake, the most important thing is to stay calm and collected, especially because we cannot predict when an earthquake will come.  If you are completely crazy and scared about the situation, nothing will get better. Carefully thinking about how to help yourself and the people around you will stop these thoughts.  

 

In Young Park, a worker at Bank of Hope said, “I was scared for almost one week after I felt the first earthquake.  Working in the fourteenth floor of an enormous building, I was super worried about what to do if an earthquake did occur when I was in the building.  Therefore, I wanted to know the exact steps to take during an earthquake.” If you follow the necessary steps listed, it will help you and keep your worries about getting hurt far away.  

 

Rosalia Park, Grade 9

Crescenta Valley High School