Correct behavior in the event of an earthquake can be life-saving. It is important to prepare before an earthquake and to know the right protection methods during an earthquake. Unfortunately, loss of life and property is common in earthquakes, and an important reason for these losses is that people panic and do not apply the right behavior or have no knowledge. For this reason, it is important to be informed before an earthquake and to conduct regular drills.
Basic disaster trainer Nazmiye Karaca, who explained the golden rules of survival to Hürriyet, said that some important steps must be taken in order to survive in the event of an earthquake. According to Karaca, those on the ground floor should get out quickly in the event of an earthquake. However, the situation is a little different for people on the upper floors. These people need to hold in the fetal position next to the bed or sofa until the concussion subsides. Karaca also emphasizes that it is necessary to wait at least 10-15 seconds after the tremors are over.
Nazmiye Karaca is a board member of the Neighborhood Disaster Volunteers Emergency Response Association (MAG AME) as well as a disaster instructor working in a chemical company. Karaca has told hundreds of people what the golden rules are for surviving during an earthquake.
People Should Know How To Help Each Other
Karaca states that the closest people to us are the residents of the neighborhood until professional help arrives. For this reason, he states that they aim to expand light-level search and rescue training to all neighborhoods. Karaca states that as Neighborhood Disaster Volunteers, they are at zero level in terms of preparation for the first 72-hour period that the people will stay with themselves, and their preparations for the buildings are also insufficient.
Karaca points out that it is vital for people to know how to help each other in a disaster. Emphasizing that unconscious and wrong rescue attempts can lead to loss of life, Karaca suggests forming small rescue teams in their neighborhoods. He also recommends the creation of a crisis desk and recommends that the residents of the neighborhood come together and plan how they will act in the event of a disaster.
Pre-earthquake Preparation
It is extremely important to prepare before an earthquake. Being caught off guard without planning can create serious risks during an earthquake. First of all, the cabinets, bookshelves and items that are longer than the width in our house should be prepared for the earthquake. In order to prevent such items from falling towards us with great acceleration during an earthquake, we can fix them using L anchors.
Get into the “Collapse-Track-Hold” Position
When you feel the shaking, stay calm. If your house is on the first floor, in a store or market, you can go out immediately. However, if you live upstairs, go to the bed or sofa and get into the “Collapse-Track-Hold” position. If you have a child, take him or her and get into this position. Next to the bed or sofa are the best places to create a life triangle. Minimize and shrink yourself. Protect yourself from becoming a target. Put the pillow on your head and protect your head and neck with one hand, hold on to an object such as a sofa or bed base that will stay with you in order not to be thrown away with the other hand. Do these practices in every room of your house as a family, so that your brain can automatically remember this information in case of fear and panic.
What Not to Do in an Earthquake
Nazmiye Karaca, listing the things that should not be done in the event of an earthquake, said, “If you are not on the ground floor, do not make an escape movement at the first moment. Do not go out on the balcony. Do not take the stairs, do not take the elevator,” he said.
Providing the information that there are two types of earthquake waves, Nazmiye Karaca explained that the leading waves called “P waves” hit from the bottom and the “S waves” that came later caused the main destruction. Stating that there is a time period of about 10 seconds between these two waves, Karaca emphasized that one should not stand up with the thought that the earthquake is over. He stated that it is necessary to wait for the main shaking to stop completely.
Karaca suggested that important preparations should be made such as closing the valves as well as the earthquake kit, car and house keys. In addition, Karaca said that when going down the stairs, one should go down from the direction of the wall instead of the handrail and check the steps with a flashlight, and that people who are under the debris may be exposed to a large cloud of dust and they should protect themselves by covering their mouth and nose with a clothing.
What to Have in an Earthquake Bag
An earthquake bag means a bag with the minimum things necessary for us to survive the first 3 days outside. What should you put in it?
- Seasonal clothing
- Preserves
- Nuts
- This
- Our important documents (Passport, ID and driver’s license photocopies, title deed, documents of the special devices we use, prescriptions of the drugs used)
- A sum of money
- radio
- Battery
- Glove
- first aid kit
- Dust mask
- Whistle
- Book or toy for children.
