What would you do during an earthquake? Federal, provincial, local and health sector emergency management experts all agree that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. The Great British Columbia ShakeOut is our opportunity to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes.
Official rescue teams who have been dispatched to the scene of disasters around the world continue to advocate use of the internationally recognized “Drop, Cover and Hold On” protocol to protect lives during earthquakes:
- DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!)
- Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
- HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table.
The main point is to try not to move and immediately protect yourself as best as possible where you are. Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you cannot run or crawl; you will most likely be knocked to the ground wherever you happen to be. You will never know if the initial jolt will turn out to be start of the big one.
You should Drop, Cover, and Hold On immediately!
Learn more about ShakeOut BC!
Visit www.shakeoutbc.ca for Shakeout registration information. Lower Mainland Health Emergency Management encourages staff and their families to participate in the “drop, Cover, Hold on” drill on Oct 18th, 2012 at 1018hrs
For more information on Emergency Preparedness for you and your families, visit the Emergency Management pages on VCH Connect.