WHAT TO DO BEFORE AN EARTHQUAKE?

• Learn about causes and effects.  Speak about them in a calm and composed manner.

• Keep a torch light and a working transistor radio with spare batteries.

• Keep a list of emergency telephone numbers like Doctor, Fire, Police, MRO, Ambulance, Water, Electricity, etc. on a card and all you family members should know them.

• Arrange your home in such a manner that it is easy to move around.

• Attach shelves, gas cylinders, flower pots etc. to the walls of the room.

• Place heavy objects on the floor or in lower shelves.

• Teach all members of your family how to turn off electricity and gas supply.

• Keep calm and keep others calm.

• Do not rush to the doors or the exits: keep well away from windows, mirrors and furniture.

• Protect yourself by staying under the lintel of an inner door frame, in the corner of the room, under a table or even under a bench or bed.

• Walk towards an open place, in a calm and composed manner.  Do not run and do not wander in the street or on the roads for sight seeing.  You must keep the roads free for movement of rescue & relief teams.

• Keep away from buildings, especially old, tall buildings or detached buildings, electricity wires, slopes and walls. They are liable to collapse.

• Stop the vehicle away from building walls, slopes, electricity wires/cables and stay inside the vehicle.

• Keep calm, switch on the transistor radio and obey any instructions you hear on the radio.

• Expect after shocks

• Do not turn on switches if you have electric connection in your house.

• Use your torch

• If there is a fire try to put it out with help of people around you.

• Clean up any spillage of inflammable material like kerosene, oils, paints, alcohol etc.

• If people are buried under the debris call for help. Do not attempt rescue all by yourself.  You might injure yourself or worsen the situation of the persons under the debris.

• Avoid places where electric wires are hanging loose and do not touch any metal object in contact with them.

• Do not drink water from open sources/containers without filtering or purification.

• Eat something to make you feel better and more capable of helping others.

• When you can move out of the house carry with you essential food, water container, torch, transistor radio, and medicines you normally use at home.

• Do not go near damaged structures or enter badly damaged buildings.

• Do not go sight seeing or wander in the streets aimlessly to see what is happening around. Keep the roads clear for the movement of relief/rescue teams.