An earthquake can be frightening. Luckily, there are things you can do to help you and your loved ones get through an emergency. The Red Cross has a variety of resources that will help you cope with emotions like fear, anxiety and anger. You can also find information from the Public Health Agency of Canada on how to deal with panic attacks, stress, and depression.
What to Do after an Earthquake
Depending on where your home is located, you might be allowed to go inside or outside during an earthquake. If you are outside, find somewhere safe to lay down. You can also use your blanket or hands to cover your neck and head. If you're indoors, crawl under a solid table or piece furniture strong enough to support your weight.
What to do during an earthquake
Listen to the radio if you are at home and follow the instructions. In an earthquake, be careful when you are near windows or stairways.
Turn off all electricity, gas, and water. Use a flashlight powered by a battery or another form of portable lighting if you lose power. Make sure to keep your emergency supplies safe.
Prepare an emergency kit
You might consider making an emergency kit for your large family in case of power failure or loss. You can have bottled water, canned food, flashlights and batteries.
A list of emergency contacts should be kept up-to-date and programmed into your phone. You should have several cell phone chargers, and you should subscribe to text-based alert services provided by local and state governments.
Register for a first aid course through a safety and health organization such as Red Cross, American Heart Association, National Safety Council or chapter. This class will help you recall what to do in the event of an earthquake. It can also be used to assist with medical care.
What to do during an earthquake
If there isn’t somewhere to shelter, you can lay down and wrap your neck and head in a blanket. Find something sturdy to cover the area, such as a desk or table. Crawl underneath the sturdy item, and hold on to it with both hands.
Be sure to practice these actions until they are an automatic response. Call 911 immediately if you are hurt.
What to do after a Aftershock
While aftershocks can be less destructive than the main quake but still cause significant damage, They can happen minutes, days, weeks or months after the main quake has passed.
They can also lead to flooding, landslides, and tsunamis that sweep over coastlines. If you are near the coast, move inland or to higher ground and remain there until authorities say it is safe.
Avoid heavy items in your house, especially bookshelves. They could be crushed by an earthquake and can easily fall. Before you re-enter your home, ensure that there is no structural damage.
FAQ
What's the time taken to find help once you are lost?
This depends upon several factors.
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Where are you?
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What kind of terrain you're in
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No matter if you have cell phone reception
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It doesn't matter if someone has seen you.
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Whether you're injured
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How dehydrated you are
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You have been drinking water?
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It doesn't matter if you have had food recently
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It doesn't matter if you are wearing the right clothing
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You can carry a map or your compass.
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How familiar do you feel with the region?
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How long have you been lost?
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How long have you spent searching for help?
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What is the average time it takes for people to notice what you are missing?
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It is amazing how quickly they search for you
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How many rescuers attract you?
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How many rescues did you receive
Why basic survival skills are important
You may not always have access to food and water, but if you're prepared for an emergency situation, then you'll survive much longer.
You have to learn how take care of yourself, and others. If you don't know how to do this, you won't last long when faced with a crisis.
You will need to know how to make shelters, light fires, and locate food if you go into the wild.
These are essential skills everyone should learn. These skills will help you stay safe and healthy during a camping trip.
What can you do to survive in an emergency situation?
It is not easy to think of what to say next. So you need to make sure you are prepared for anything. It is important to be able to quickly react to any unexpected problems.
You must also be ready to improvise if you find yourself in a situation where you're not sure what to do.
If you are in a survival situation, you will likely encounter problems such:
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Finding yourself in remote places
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Getting lost
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Limited food supply
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Running low on water
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Facing hostile people
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Facing wild animal
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Finding shelter
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Fighting off predators
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Setting the flame
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Tools
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Building shelters
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Hunting
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* Fishing
How do I stay calm during a survival situation
For most situations, calmness and patience are key. In a survival situation, it is easy to panic, especially if your only option is to stay put and not be contacted by anyone. You can be calm and patient no matter what happens.
You cannot alter the outcome of a situation. You only have control of how you react. So even if you didn’t achieve all you wanted, you can still feel good.
You must be calm and collected when you're in a survival situation. You must be mentally and physically prepared.
Mental preparation involves setting realistic expectations and having a clear goal.
Physical preparation is ensuring you have enough food for the rescue and water.
Once you've done those two things, you can relax and enjoy the experience.
How to Navigate with or Without a Compass
Although it doesn't give you a map of where you are heading, a compass can help you navigate back home if your bearings have been lost.
There are three methods you can use to navigate.
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By landmarks
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Magnetic North (using a compasse)
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By stars
These are objects you recognize immediately when you come across them. They include trees, buildings, rivers, etc. Landmarks can be useful because they are a visual indicator of where you're at.
Magnetic North simply indicates the direction in which Earth's magnetic field points. You'll see that the sun appears as if it is moving across the sky when you look up. The sun actually moves around the earth because of the earth's magnetic fields. The sun appears to move across the sky but it actually moves around the horizon. The sun is overhead at noon. At midnight, the sun is directly below you. Because the earth's magnet field is constantly changing, the exact position of the magnetic North Pole changes every day. This means that sometimes you may be off course for quite a while.
Another method of navigation is to use stars. Stars rise and set above the horizon. These points are in space and can be used to locate your position relative to other places.
Statistics
- The downside to this type of shelter is that it does not generally offer 360 degrees of protection and unless you are diligent in your build or have some kind of tarp or trash bags, it will likely not be very resistant to water. (hiconsumption.com)
- Without one, your head and neck can radiate up to 40 percent of your body heat. (dec.ny.gov)
- Not only does it kill up to 99.9% of all waterborne bacteria and parasites, but it will filter up to 1,000 liters of water without the use of chemicals. (hiconsumption.com)
- so you can be 100 percent hands-free, and there's less chance you'll put your torch down and lose it. (nymag.com)
External Links
How To
How to build a lean-to shelter
Small structures known as lean-tos can be found all across the United States. These structures are made mostly from wood or metal poles that are covered with tarps, canvas, sheeting or corrugated roofing material. The walls, floor, and ceiling are usually built first, then the roof is added.
A leaning-to is temporary shelter built on the side a building to provide shelter when it is too cold or rainy to build a permanent shelter. You can also refer to it as a lean-to shed, lean-to cottage, or lean-to home.
There are many types to lean-tos.
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Simple wooden frame covered with tarpaulin. This type is often seen in rural areas.
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A lean-to tent, consisting of a frame made up of poles which support a tarpaulin.
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A lean-to cabin is also known as a "cabin on-frame" and consists of a platform supported with beams and posts.
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A lean-to shed is also known as a "shelter on a pole" or "paddockshed". It consists of a frame of poles and supports covered with a cover.
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A leaning garage, also known by the names "garage ofstilts" and "overhang", is made up of a steel framework supported on concrete stilts.
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A lean-to studio is also known as a "studio on a frame" or "studio on a post". It consists of a framework that consists of two horizontal members (posts), and one perpendicular (beam).
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A lean-to greenhouse, also called a "greenhouse-on-a-post," consists of three parallel horizontal members (posts), one perpendicular member (beam), and a canopy.