Fact About Earthquakes
Facts about Earthquakes
Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently, and without warning at any time of the year and at any time of the day or night. Smaller earthquakes often follow the main shock. An earthquake is caused by the breaking and shifting of rock beneath the Earth’s surface. Ground shaking from earthquakes can collapse buildings and bridges; disrupt gas, electric, and phone service; and sometimes trigger landslides, avalanches, flash floods, fires, and huge, destructive ocean waves (tsunamis). Most earthquake-related injuries result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects. Several thousand shocks of varying sizes occur annually in the United States, and 70 to 75 damaging earthquakes occur throughout the world each year. All 50 states and all U.S. territories are vulnerable to earthquakes. Where earthquakes have occurred in the past, they will happen again. California experiences the most frequent damaging earthquakes; however, Alaska experiences the greatest number of large earthquakes—most located in uninhabited areas. Earthquakes occur most frequently west of the Rocky Mountains, although historically the most violent...
What to do During an Earthquake
What to Do During an Earthquake Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and if you are indoors, stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe. Also read Ten Earthquake Survival Tips If indoors
DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON 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. Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture. Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under...
What to do Before an Earthquake
What to Do Before an Earthquake Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently and without warning. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. Repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations, anchoring overhead lighting fixtures to the ceiling, and following local seismic building standards, will help reduce the impact of earthquakes. Six Ways to Plan Ahead 1. Check for Hazards in the Home
Fasten shelves securely to walls. Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves. Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets with latches. Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds, couches, and anywhere people sit. Brace overhead light fixtures. Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks. Secure a water heater by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it to the floor. Repair any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations. Get expert advice if there are signs of...
The Importance of Shelter
The Importance of Shelter
Shelter is necessary to give shade, to repel wind and rain and to keep in warmth. Sleep and adequate rest are essential and the time and effort you put into making your shelter comfortable will make them easier to get. If you are the victim of a plane crash or a vehicle breakdown, either may provide a shelter or materials from which one can be built – but if there is fire or the threat of the fuel tank exploding, wait until it has burned out before attempting salvage. If you are an unequipped victim of an accident, are trapped by unexpected fog or caught by nightfall in terrain where it is not safe to move around, or if exhaustion or injury prevents you from going further, you may have to make do with any natural shelter that you can find for the night, or until you can more fully assess the situation. In this case, virtually any protection...
Animal Products
Animal Products All animals provide skins. Their condition will depend on how carefully they were removed, the way the animal was killed (which may have damaged the skin), the age of the animal and time of year (Mating season, molt and change of season can affect the amount and color of fur in some species). Common defects are due to parasites, disease, malnutrition and scars from fight injuries. SKINS AND FURS Snakes, lizards, crocodiles and other reptiles all provide excellent skins. So do large birds such as ostriches. Some aquatic mammals, seals and their relations, are fur-bearing, like land mammals, and whales and dolphins have strong hides. Sharks also have a hide, instead of scales like most other fish. Birds can be skinned with the feathers attached and used to make warm clothing or bed covers. Skin is a source of food and in circumstances of acute shortage can be eaten, even after being preserved and used for clothing, but it is very...
Insects as Survival Food
Insects as Survival Food The best emergency survival foods are high in fats and protein, easily acquired and prepared for eating, widely available, and numerous throughout the area you are in. In all these categories, eating insects as survival fare has little completion. Gathering insects for survival food can give you the highest return in terms of energy expenditure versus energy gain. As you travel outdoors or lounge in camp, keep a container handy and collect insects as you find them. Over the course of a day you may be able to obtain quite a large number of them in this way with very little extra effort. Even during the winter months in cold climates a skilled survivor should be able to find edible insects if he knows where to look. Look under and within rotten wood, beneath rocks, and in sheltered spots where insects may have laid eggs or spun cocoons. Ants, termites, moths, grasshoppers, crickets, locusts, beetle larvae, caterpillars, spiders and many other...
What to do during a Fire
What to do During a Fire If your clothes catch on fire, you should:
Stop, drop, and roll – until the fire is extinguished. Running only makes the fire burn faster.
To escape a fire, you should:
Check closed doors for heat before you open them. If you are escaping through a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the top of the door, the doorknob, and the crack between the door and door frame before you open it. Never use the palm of your hand or fingers to test for heat – burning those areas could impair your ability to escape a fire (i.e., ladders and crawling).
Test the door before entering a room! Hot Door Do not open. Escape through a window. If you cannot escape, hang a white or light-colored sheet outside the window, alerting fire fighters to your presence. Cold Door Open slowly and ensure fire and/or smoke is not blocking your escape route. If your escape route is blocked, shut the door...
Brake Failure
Brake Failure If brakes fail while driving, change gear and apply the handbrake. You must do several things at once: take your foot off the accelerator, flick the switch of your warning lights, pump the foot-brake rapidly (it may still connect), change down through the gears and apply handbrake pressure. Don’t slam the brake on, begin with gentle bursts, gradually braking harder until you stop. If there is no time for all this, take your foot off the accelerator and change down through the gears – and grab the handbrake – but DON’T apply maximum pressure until you are sure that you won’t skid. Look out for escape lanes and places where you can leave the road, preferably a soft bank or a turn-in that has an uphill slope. If speed remains unchecked, on a steep hill for example, brush the car along guard-rails or wall to reduce speed. Take advantage of a vehicle in front and use it to stop you – run into it as...
Food Stores
Storing Food Storing food is a good habit to get into, especially if you live in an isolated place, which can become completely cut-off. If you have a year’s food supply in store, and add to it as you use it, you will not only be able to survive the worst but will be able to live at last year’s prices. The stock does not have to be established in one go. Build it up gradually, taking advantage of special offers in supermarkets. Buy an extra tin or packet and put it by. Store your foods in a cool, dry, dark place and off the ground – moisture and heat cause bacteria and molds. If stores are left on the floor insects and rodents will help themselves. Make sure that all containers are insect- and rodent-proof. REMEMBER: Rotate cans, so that the contents do not settle, and separate. Label each can or packet with a color-fast waterproof pen, noting contents and date of storage....
Car Sinking Under Water
CAR SINKING UNDER WATER You don’t have to drive off a bridge to experience the terror of sinking underwater in a car. Flash floods can be just as deadly — a car could start floating away in only 2 feet of water. Either way, once the water starts pouring into your vehicle, you need to keep your cool while acting quickly. First, unfasten your seat belt. That may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at the number of drowning victims who never unbuckled themselves. Then, before the electricity shorts out, roll down the windows. THAT’S RIGHT, ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS This may seem a suicidal act as you sit in a sinking car. But the point is to equalize the water pressure inside and outside the vehicle. If your sinking car stays full of air, there’s no way you’ll be able to open the door. If you still can’t get the door open and windows won’t roll down, find a heavy object, a flashlight or the headrest...