The most terrifying thing about an earthquake is the fact that it can happen at any time. The United States Geological Survey will not notify people about an impending earthquake more than a few seconds before the actual event. You will be able to get shelter quickly and be ready for the shaking.
Preparing for an earthquake is the first step. Determine where you are in your house or building before it happens and plan what to do if it does. Identify any hazards and take measures to protect anything that could be damaged by the shaking.
Before the shaking ceases, make a list and mark where you want to keep your belongings. Keep flammable liquids like paints, pesticides and cleaning products in closed cabinets or on lower shelves.
Next, examine your house to find out what is likely to fall and how heavy furniture is. Finally, secure any items that are not in use. This includes water heaters and major appliances, as well as tall, heavy items that may fall, such as mirrors or picture frames.
Verify that the roof and foundation of your home are secured. Bolted homes are safer, and can help to avoid structural damage.
A strong foundation is essential for high-rise buildings. Make sure the floors are anchored to walls studs. A building's foundation could collapse in an earthquake if it is not solid.
Do not try to move to a new room or leave the building until it stops shaking and is safe to do so. You may lose power, or sprinkler systems and fire alarms could go off.
During the shaking, stay close to the center of the room, stand against an interior wall or in a doorway. If you can't find an area to reach under a table/desk, crawl to an inner corner of a room and cover yourself with your arms.
Then, "Drop, Cover and Hold On" until the shaking stops. This means you need to COVER your head and neck, then DROP down to the ground and HOLD ON tightly to a piece of furniture, such a table or desk.
You can then lay down or sit on the floor, but avoid any glass, windows, or outside doors that could fracture. If the ceiling is sufficiently high and there aren’t any heavy or unsecured objects around, you can crawl to an interior wall.
When shaking stops, find an area where you can get to the ground and move out of the structure. Pull over to the side and stop if you're in a car.
If you live alone in an apartment or condominium, make sure the floors are stable. Secure all appliances and water heaters at the wall studs. These large appliances can cause serious injury in a earthquake if they don't get secured to walls or aren't on top of a slab.
FAQ
How to Navigate With or Without a Compass?
A compass is not able to tell you where your destination is, but it can help guide you back home if necessary.
Three different ways you can navigate are available:
-
By landmarks
-
By magnetic North (using an compass).
-
By stars
Landmarks are objects that you recognize when you see them. These include trees, buildings and rivers. Landmarks are useful because they provide a visual clue to where you are.
Magnetic North simply means the direction where the 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. Although it appears that the sun is moving across the sky and around the horizon, it actually does so. The sun is directly overhead at noon. At midnight, the sun is directly below you. The magnetic field of the earth is constantly changing. This means that the exact direction and orientation of the North pole magnetically changes each day. This could mean you can be off-course by quite a bit in one day.
Stars can also be used to navigate. Stars rise and set above the horizon. These are fixed points in time that you can use for determining your location relative others.
What is the most important thing to do in a survival scenario?
Assessing the situation is the first thing you should do in an emergency. You need to know what is happening around you, where you are and how you got there.
Also, you need to be aware of what your environment can offer. If you live in a remote area, communication may be impossible.
If you don’t know anything, it is a good idea to learn as much as you possibly can.
If you're in any immediate danger, it is best to get medical attention immediately. You might be able to wait until you are safe to collect information and find out the facts.
What are some basic survival skills in the wild environment?
It is essential to be able to make a fire, especially if you are living off the ground. It's not just a matter of lighting a match; you must learn how to start a fire using friction and flint. Also, you need to be able to avoid being burned by the flames.
It's important to learn how to make shelter with natural materials like leaves, grasses, trees, etc. You'll need to know how best to use these materials to stay warm at night. You should also know how much water your body needs to survive.
Other Survival Skills
Even though they will help you to stay alive, they are not as crucial as learning how lighting a fire. For example, you can eat many different kinds of plants and animals, but if you don't know how to light a fire, you won't be able to cook them.
You will also need to know where and how to find food, including edible animals. If you don't know this, you may starve or become sick.
What can you do to survive in an emergency situation?
It's impossible to spend too much time thinking about what you should say next. You need to be prepared for any situation. 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.
You'll likely face problems such as:
-
Being stuck in a remote location
-
Getting lost
-
Having limited food supplies
-
Low on water
-
Facing hostile people
-
Facing wild animal
-
Finding shelter
-
Fighting off predators
-
Setting fire to
-
Use tools
-
Building shelters
-
Hunting
-
* Fishing
What is your best survival tool in the event you lose everything?
The compass will tell you which direction north is. It also shows us how far we have traveled from our starting point. If you're traveling somewhere with mountains, the compass may not always show you where you need to go. However, if you're in a flat area, the compass should be able to show you the way.
A compass is not necessary if you do not have one. You can use an object like a rock, tree or other solid for guidance. However, you can still use a landmark as a way to navigate but it will be easier to determine north.
Why you should know basic survival skills?
While you might not always have access water or food, being prepared will ensure that you survive for 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.
If you're going into the wilderness, you will need to be able to build shelters, make fires, and find food.
These are vital skills that everyone must have. These skills will ensure you are safe and healthy when camping.
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)
- We know you're not always going to be 100% prepared for the situations that befall you, but you can still try and do your best to mitigate the worst circumstances by preparing for a number of contingencies. (hiconsumption.com)
- The Dyrt PRO gives 40% campground discounts across the country (thedyrt.com)
- Without one, your head and neck can radiate up to 40 percent of your body heat. (dec.ny.gov)
External Links
How To
How to Purify Drink Water in Emergencies
In times of natural disasters, drinking water purification is one of the most critical activities. Purifying water involves filtering, disinfection and storage. Clean water has been a lifesaver during emergency situations. It helps people recover quicker after disasters.
Purified water should always be stored properly and kept away from direct sunlight. Purified water should be stored in a container that does not contain oxygen. Plastic bags or bottles can be used if you don’t have enough containers. Keep the water at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius (40 F). Avoid freezing the water to prevent ice crystals from forming.
These steps will help you prepare purified drinking water.
-
Boil water to boil until it is dry. By straining the boiling water through an a strainer, you can remove any impurities.
-
For every 2 gallons water, add 1 teaspoon of iodine. Before adding the iodine, stir well.
-
Keep the water in an airtight container. Keep the water at room temperature for no longer than three working days.
-
Label the container with the date and type of water.
-
Make sure that your water supply is safe!