Introduction
An earthquake simply refers to sudden shaking or vibration of the earth’s surface due to the movement of rocks beneath (Kohler et al., 2020). When tectonic plates slide against one another, such movements lead to an earthquake.
The severity of an earthquake mostly depends on its magnitude; hence, the higher the magnitude, the more powerful an earthquake becomes. While it may cause little to no harm in some instances, it could also be disastrous and result in landslides, fires, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.
Since they happen without warning, being prepared is necessary to preserve lives, prevent injury, and reduce property damage. Disaster preparedness involves measures taken by individuals or organizations to ensure better response and coping in disasters when and after they occur. Simple initiatives always go a long way in ensuring that lives are saved and the impacts of such disasters are reduced.
Disaster Preparedness for an Earthquake
Knowing the signs of an earthquake is the first key to survival in the event where it happens. It includes a roaring sound that may initially be gentle but grows louder within seconds. It may also be characterized by a violent jolt and shaking, which makes it hard to stand or move (Kohler et al., 2020).
When indoors, safe spots may include crawling under heavy furniture like a table, standing in a doorway, or against interior walls. A major outdoor safe spot involves staying in the open, away from buildings, power lines, and any falling objects. Fireplaces should also be avoided at all times since they may lead to severe injuries during earthquakes.
Household Plan
A household plan involves creating a family plan that gives an understanding of what to do during and after an earthquake. It involves a general family preparedness and communication plan that reduces the threat of injuries, damage, and death (Feng et al., 2020). For instance, it is wise to shut off gas, water, and electricity during an earthquake. Additionally, each family individual needs to have a go-bag that contains all necessities such as clothing, shoes, enough food and drinks, and other personal effects that can last up to three days. The bag should, however, be packed lightly for easy carrying in case of an evacuation.
Since phones may not be reliable during an earthquake, a good meeting point may be outside the house or a shop that is easy to remember, even under stress.
An emergency kit contains supplies that are used after an earthquake. These supplies are very important in case of injuries or if they are inaccessible. They include foodstuff (non-perishable), water, a first aid kit, a whistle, a sleeping bag, closed-study shoes, battery-powered radio, extra batteries, and a flashlight.
Securing the Home
Securing the home is a very important step before an earthquake. It involves examining the home carefully and fixing anything that can be a potential hazard to individual safety (Feng et al., 2020). Falling objects, such as picture frames, shelves, and mirrors, should be kept away from couches, beds, and areas where people spend a lot of time. Other items, such as electrical devices, flammable liquids, breakables, bookcases, and cabinets, ought to be secured accordingly to prevent injuries and further damage.
Staying informed at all times will also help in understanding local risks and hazards. Weather radios regularly broadcast official forecasts, advisories, warnings, and other hazards and hence may come in handy where necessary. Local news may also offer warning signals, and this helps in disaster preparedness.
Emergency Contacts and Important Documents
A list of emergency contacts may include family and friends’ phone numbers, both local and out-of-town. Other important contacts include emergency personnel like the police, firefighters, and medical personnel. A cell phone is also required to make calls during emergencies or send text messages where calls cannot go through.
During disasters, most people rarely remember securing their important documents (Zaremohzzabieh et al., 2021). Therefore, making digital copies of documents such as birth certificates, insurance information, financial records, licenses, IDs, and other relevant certificates is very essential. Scanning and storing them in iCloud or Google Drive ensures safety in the event that storage devices are destroyed during an earthquake.
Going in to Work
When an earthquake occurs while driving to work, the first step would be to move the car away from any overhead wires and overpasses and pull over. The next thing is to remain inside and turn on the radio for possible emergency information announcements. When it is safe to continue driving, it is important to watch out for any possible hazards caused by the earthquake and consult for alternate driving routes to ensure safety (Feng et al., 2020). After reaching the workplace successfully, it is wise to stay alert and away from the building until it is confirmed to be safe to get in.
Earthquake at Work
The first step should be trying to stay calm and encourage the people around me, including the patient. At this moment, all surgical procedures need to stop. Continuing may risk the patient’s life, which is against the ‘do no harm’ principle. If the patient is not stable, closing the wound might be the best option, depending on the underlying situation. Movements should be minimized unless when taking cover. Personal safety is very important at this point since exposing oneself to danger may result in injuries. For instance, I can practice the famous ‘duck, cover, and hold’ process by ducking on the floor, taking cover under a desk or table, and holding on to it firmly.
Following Hospital Protocols
The hospital always has pre-planned emergency communication systems in place for both inter-facility and in-house communication. Therefore, the responsible emergency personnel are able to communicate steps to take to ensure the safety of patients, medical equipment, computers, and other important systems that will enable functionality after the earthquake stops.
A pre-planned signal alerts everyone in the hospital of an earthquake through an alarm. People are encouraged to be calm and take cover accordingly (Feng et al., 2020). While other people practice duck, cover, and hold, bedridden patients should have a pillow on their heads for protection. If in the elevator, individuals should get off to the next floor and take cover. Once the shaking stops, everyone is encouraged to be alert and prepare for evacuation in serious cases. As they listen for further instructions, they may watch out for fires, gas leaks, and damaged water systems and turn them off where possible.
Roles During an Earthquake
Being prepared and staying alert during an earthquake is the most important thing an individual can do. Not only does it help reduce anxiety and fear, but it also helps to know what steps to take for survival (Zaremohzzabieh et al., 2021). Sometimes, disaster-relief organizations may take time before coming to one’s aid, and thus, being prepared may help save lives and reduce the impacts of earthquakes. As an individual, being prepared will help me know when and how I can support others. For instance, I can quickly throw a blanket on a bedridden patient as I take cover to protect them from getting injured by falling objects.
Conclusion
The main objective of adequately preparing for any disaster is to reduce the loss of lives and property (Zaremohzzabieh et al., 2021). A disaster may strike unexpectedly, causing confusion and total chaos among the affected people. Therefore, having a plan on what to do alleviates the risk of losing lives and money and damaging property and speeds up individual recovery in case of injuries.
References
Kohler, M. D., Smith, D. E., Andrews, J., Chung, A. I., Hartog, R., Henson, I.,… & Guiwits, S. (2020). Earthquake early warning ShakeAlert 2.0: Public rollout. Seismological Research Letters, 91(3), 1763-1775.
Feng, Z., González, V. A., Amor, R., Spearpoint, M., Thomas, J., Sacks, R.,… & Cabrera-Guerrero, G. (2020). An immersive virtual reality serious game to enhance earthquake behavioral responses and post-earthquake evacuation preparedness in buildings. Advanced Engineering Informatics, 45, 101118.
Zaremohzzabieh, Z., Samah, A. A., Roslan, S., Shaffril, H. A. M., D’Silva, J. L., Kamarudin, S., & Ahrari, S. (2021). Household preparedness for future earthquake disaster risk using an extended theory of planned behavior. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 65, 102533.