Guide · Disasters and emergencies
Earthquakes
Most earthquake injuries come from falling objects and people trying to move during the shaking. Knowing what to do in those first seconds makes the biggest difference.
Before an earthquake
- Fix heavy furniture, shelves and the water heater to the walls.
- Keep heavy items on low shelves and away from beds.
- Know how to turn off your gas, water and electricity.
- Keep shoes and a torch by your bed.
- Have water, food and a first aid kit for at least three days.
- Practise Drop, Cover, Hold On with everyone in your home.
During the shaking: Drop, Cover, Hold On
- Drop to your hands and knees where you are, before the shaking knocks you down.
- Cover your head and neck with your arm. Crawl under a sturdy table or desk if one is close. If not, get down next to an inside wall, away from windows.
- Hold On to your shelter, or keep covering your head, until the shaking stops.
Don't run outside while it's shaking. Falling glass and masonry near doorways and outside walls cause many injuries. Don't stand in a doorway either; it won't protect you from falling objects.
- In bed: stay there, lie face down and cover your head with a pillow.
- Using a wheelchair: lock the wheels, bend over and cover your head and neck.
- Outside: move away from buildings, trees, street lights and power lines, then drop.
- Driving: pull over somewhere clear, away from bridges and overpasses, and stay in the car with your seatbelt on.
After the shaking stops
- Expect aftershocks. Drop, Cover, Hold On again each time.
- Check yourself and others for injuries. Give first aid if you can.
- If you smell gas, don't use switches or flames. Get out and call from outside.
- Leave a damaged building carefully. Use stairs, not lifts.
- If you're trapped, cover your mouth with cloth, tap on a pipe or wall, or use a whistle. Shout only as a last resort, so you don't breathe in dust.
- Near the coast? If the shaking was strong or long, move inland or to high ground straight away in case of a tsunami. Don't wait for an official warning.
- Listen to a radio for instructions from your local authorities.
- If someone is badly hurt, call your local emergency number (112 in Europe and many other countries, 911 in North America). Use text if calls won't connect, and keep lines free for emergencies.
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