I spent last weekend in Southern California visiting friends and experienced an earthquake while I was there. It was reported to be a 5.0. No one was hurt, nothing was damaged, but it shook my sense of security. There has been much talk and speculation that we are due for another 'Big One' in the near future. With that said, I have been looking up earthquake safety guides and tips to reacquaint myself with safety measures.
For as long as I can remember I have always been taught to crawl under a desk or get under a doorway in the event of an earthquake. I have recently learned that more people have died being crushed under these desks when they could have had a better chance of surviving if they had been lying down next to these desks. When buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes the objects, leaving a space or void next to them.
~~~>This space is what is called the "triangle of life". The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be judged. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the "triangles" you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape you will see in a collapsed building.
Cats, dogs, and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.
TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
1. You can't plan where to be during the 'big one' but just know that wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has much less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less crushed bodies than concrete slabs.
2. If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed.
3. If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to the sofa, or large chair.
4. Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the door jam falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you risk being crushed by the doorway. In either case, it could be fatal.
5. Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different "moment of frequency" (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on the stairs before they fail risk being mutilated by the stair treads. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by the fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.
6. Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible. It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.
7. People inside their vehicles under a bridge or near a building are at more of a risk to be crushed if they stay inside. It is safer to get out of the vehicle and sit or lay next to the vehicle where there are possible 3 feet voids next to them.
Spread the word and save someone's life. The entire world is experiencing natural calamities...so be prepared! "We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly."
