The Big One - Page 3

During an earthquake, the best safety measure to follow is something known as “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” This principle reduces the chance of injury or death during an earthquake. First of all, drop to the ground. This minimizes the area of space you’re taking up, thereby reducing the chance that you’ll be hit by debris or shrapnel. Next, cover your head, either with your arms or by moving under a table. The more protection you’ve got around your head, the less likely you are to sustain a potentially dangerous injury. Finally, hold on to furniture (even if it is moving). This gives you added stability and provides protection in the form of the so-called “triangle of life,” formed when (theoretical) falling debris impacts the furniture instead of your body and forms a right triangle with the furniture and the floor.

All of these techniques can reduce the risk of injury or death, but there is no foolproof method for surviving a major earthquake. Ironically, it isn’t in the quake itself that most deaths occur, but in the fires that can result from ruptured gas lines.

“We definitely take preventative measures, but even then something is likely to break during the bigger quakes,” Mr. Short said. “I’ve been in some decent-size earthquakes in California, ones that give you a rush of adrenaline. Those make you think about how bad a huge one would be.”

No kidding.

Article Author: Brian Murff

Brian Murff is a college student studying professional writing at the University of Oklahoma. He spends an absurd amount of his time reading, listening to music, and playing video games. He also likes playing the occasional game of bocce.

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