[DIPECHO Network] Behaviour in an Earthquake

[Ilan Kelman]

Following last month's earthquake in China, there has been much discussion on the appropriate behaviour to follow during an earthquake.  I append below two messages from another email list which provide an excellent summary of what we do and do not know about this topic.

Ilan

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By Marla Petal, Risk RED, http://www.riskred.org

We simply do NOT have data on causes of deaths and injuries in various  
types of construction to go on. Walls may fall in, walls may fall out.  
Domes may stand on columns, domes may collapse. Minarets may fall etc.  
etc.  We NEED this kind of research as much as any kind of risk  
assessment data! IF anyone is ready to do this in Pakistan, China or  
elsewhere I am happy to provide survey forms and methods for  
international comparisons with California (wood frame construction and  
Turkey (reinforced concrete construction) - the only places for which  
we have data.
 
The main points of drop, cover and hold apply with or without anything  
strong to get under.
#1. Drop is mostly to prevent falling injuries - but the true  
objective is to "Get down on your knees and Make Yourself Small" in  
order to be a smaller target to falling objects. Expose your back  
which is the strongest part of your body. This helps to avoid injuries  
to head, neck and thorax which cause the most severe/fatal injuries.  
(Fetal position is ok, but depending on your angle you can be rolling  
around, so better to be in a position of maximum control and mobility,  
which is a military crawl position on hands and knees close to the  
ground).
 
By the way there are many photos of children taking an incorrect squat  
position. This is inherently unstable! As soon as the shaking starts  
they will fall over. Please let us all replace these pictures!
 
#2. Cover and Hold are extra protection for head and neck. This can  
also be done with pillow, book, book bag, etc. - it can be done  
anywhere.
 
PLEASE PLEASE BEWARE that while the concept of a "survivable void  
space" (sometimes referred to as a "triangle of life" has limited  
value - we DO NOT have the research to KNOW where those will be found  
or IF the measures taken will cause more injuries than they save. In  
all likelihood most of those who perish never had any chance of doing  
anything at all. Furthermore, and sadly, in many places search and  
rescue will NOT reach and uncover all of the survivable voids within  
the 48 hour golden period for survival (or longer....). When they do  
they won't have medical care to survive crush injuries. So teaching  
this in any way is really promoting diverting mythology. Similarly  
running out of multistorey buildings with things debris raining down  
is really not an option (as you can see from the photographic evidence  
of heavily damaged buildings). The truer message is that it's too late  
when it shakes. Safe construction, non-structural mitigation... are  
the only real safety measures - human behavior during the shaking has  
limited protective value.  In BOTH CALIFORNIA AND TURKEY the people  
who had the fewest injuries were those who REMAINED ASLEEP IN THEIR  
BEDS.....

For more details on what we do know from research on causes of deaths  
and injuries relative to the "Triangle of Life" please read the blog  
at www.riskred.wordpress.com

Sincerely,
Marla
 
Marla Petal
mpetal at imagins.com
Home +41 22 740 2704
Skype: +1 408 914 2424
Mobile +41 76 240 8474
Skype: shmarla

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Drop, Cover and Hold On - Standing in Doorways - Triangle of Life

By Ana-Marie Jones, Executive Director, CARD - Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters
 
After disasters, when interest in preparedness is high (and public trust is
low) we find that misinformation, rumors and scams flourish.  The bad news
is that this can leave people confused and unable to make well-informed
decisions to protect themselves, their families and their communities.  The
good news is that anyone can help sort through the growing collection of
outdated, wrong, or misleading information.
 
At CARD, we encourage alternative modes of learning and thinking, and we
have found it valuable to question even the most widely accepted advice.
Below are some of the concepts and conversations we share in CARD classes
and presentations when asked about Drop, Cover and Hold On, standing in
doorways, and "Triangle of Life."
 
Please note that this guidance was created for audiences in the United
States. Building codes, construction materials, and the typical contents of
buildings varies widely from country to country. Also note that the info
below does not include the advice we give for people unable to physically do
any of these actions.
 
*About Drop, Cover and Hold On (DCH) … CARD recommends this method *
 
 ·*Drop*. This is done as a conscious and controlled protective action. It
is far better to place yourself gently on the floor, than to have the
earthquake violently throw you to the ground.
 
 ·*Cover*. Taking cover under sturdy furniture provides some immediate
protection from falling debris. Almost any item can be dangerous in an
earthquake.  Getting hit, cut or injured by objects and debris in your
immediate environment is widely considered to be the most likely threat in
an earthquake.
 
 ·*Hold On*. Earthquakes can come with violent, prolonged shaking. Holding
on to sturdy furniture can help stop you from being tossed around. If you
are not holding on, the furniture can move away during the shaking, leaving
you without protection.
 
Having a safe place to hide under sturdy furniture can provide some
protection in other emergency conditions.  This would be true in some
explosions, some fire situations, as well as in some domestic violence
situations, shootings and home invasions. Some self-defense courses include
advice on using sturdy furniture as a protective measure.
 
You can preposition simple supplies under sturdy furniture. At CARD, we
recommend taping whistles, LED mini-flashlights or light sticks, and basic
emergency instructions under sturdy desks -- so that you'll have these
supplies where you take cover.
 
 
*About Standing in Doorways...CARD does NOT recommend this *
 
Standing in a doorway is unsafe during an earthquake. This practice is a
perfect example of *outdated* information. When we lived in adobe structures
for example, the wooden doorframe was often the most solid part of the
structure, and we were told that this was the best place to be in an
earthquake. With modern building codes, different construction standards,
stronger materials, and lessons learned from many earthquakes, this advice
is inappropriate.
 
Unfortunately, it takes time before we realize information is outdated, and
there is often great resistance to change. It takes time, awareness and
resources to develop new appropriate practices. New trainings must be
created to teach new actions, and trainers must be trained to deliver the
new information. Then the new, correct information and trainings must be
shared with the public.
 
One of the true challenges is that it is very hard for people to *"unlearn"
*incorrect or outdated information.  Many people tune-out advice once they
think they already know the correct information. Others hear the "new"
advice as an additional option, rather than an important life-saving
correction, unless the instructor specifically states *why* the old
information is no longer accurate.
 
Below are some of the other items we share in CARD conversations to help
people "unlearn" standing in doorways as a protective measure.
 
--"Standing" anywhere during · an earthquake is undesirable. Again, it is
far better to put yourself quickly on the floor, than to have the earthquake
throw you there.
 
--Doorways are often pathways to exits · - so putting yourself directly in
the path of scared people "running for safety" can be dangerous.
 
--Doorways often have doors in them. These doors tend to swing and slam with
the movements of the earthquake. This increases chances of finger or facial
injury if the door slams.
 
--During an earthquake, doorways (especially those leading to the outside)
open into the unknown -- where unreinforced masonry, glass shards and other
hazards are often found.
 
There are many reasons why we believe it's the safer choice to *Drop* to the
ground, take *Cover* under sturdy furniture, and *Hold On *until the shaking
stops.  There are many reasons why standing in doorways is dangerous and
undesirable.
 
*About the "Triangle of Life"… CARD does NOT recommend this method*
 
The method known as the "Triangle of Life" is mainly promoted by an
individual named Doug Copp. He identifies himself as being with an
organization called ARTI – American Rescue Team International. His method
has been shared across the United States in the form of an email. The
"Triangle of Life" email states that if you Drop, Cover and Hold On in an
earthquake, you'll be crushed to death.
 
Item #5 in the email promoting this method advises:
 
"*If an earthquake happens while you are watching television and you cannot
easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up
in the fetal position next to a sofa or large chair*."
 
Copp maintains that by being in this position, you will be safe when the
building collapses, because the furniture (since it is dense and will not
compact much) will help create a triangle-shaped void, which he calls the
"Triangle of Life."
 
Most all of the reputable disaster response and preparation agencies dispute
this method. However, this fact is not what makes me reject it. After all,
CARD embraces a method and message that differs greatly from the traditional
approach
 
The arguments against the "Triangle of Life" are many, including:
 
--Thanks to enforced building codes and higher construction standards, the
complete pancake collapse of the entire building is not the most likely
threat we face from earthquakes in the United States.  Complete pancake
collapse is actually quite rare.
 
--The "Triangle of Life" positioning immediately exposes you to some of the
most likely and most known threats, including being hit, cut, injured or
killed by the contents of the room you are in -- when objects start moving
violently in an earthquake.
 
--While "triangles" (what · professional rescuers call 'void spaces' or
'life safe voids') are found AFTER the movement stops, it is not yet
possible to determine where those voids will be BEFORE the movement starts.
 Furniture and other objects can move great distances in a major earthquake,
sometimes all the way across the room. The fact that a void space is found
near where an object landed AFTER the shaking stopped, does not mean its
original location was a safe space for you to put your body BEFORE the
movement started.
 
Last year I was teaching a class in Southern California and I met a woman
who identified herself as being with ARTI. She promotes the "Triangle of
Life" as the method to use in response to earthquakes. I asked her if she
would tell me about the method from her perspective.  We had a nice long
conversation over the phone.
 
The complete, total, pancake collapse of structures is central to their
belief and their argument for promoting the method. As I recall, reports
indicate that *less than* 2.5% of all buildings damaged in the massive
Kocaeli/Izmit earthquake (Turkey, August 1999, 7.4) suffered complete
pancake collapse.  Even in heavily damaged buildings, most people were not
killed -- approximately 1 in 20 overall.  After hearing the explanation
directly from a representative of ARTI, I am not at all moved to change my
position.
 
Below are some links to what our traditional emergency response partners say
about this issue and some of what has been posted about the controversy.
 
California OES response:
http://www.cert-la.com/OES-Memo-on-DCH-Procedure.pdf
 
Earthquake Country: http://www.earthquakecountry.info/dropcoverholdon/
 
USGS:  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/faq.php?categoryID=6&faqID=141
 
Articles about Doug Copp, the creator of the "Triangle of Life":
http://www.abqjournal.com/terror/
 
Snopes Urban Legends Page: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/triangle.asp
 
 
Rumors, scams, hoaxes and good old-fashioned wrong information about threats
and personal safety issues are costly. Losses come in the form of lost
productivity, wasted dollars, increased anxiety and diminished trust -- none
of which can we afford.
 
*Here is the GREAT NEWS: Anyone can help stop outdated, incorrect or
misleading information from hurting our community!  *
 
CARD suggestions:
 
1) Seize the Teachable Moment! Even ridiculous rumors and misinformation
present an opportunity to educate and motivate your audiences about safety
and preparedness. Seize every chance to provide the correct information,
dispel rumors, and bust scams.
 
2) Create a 'Rumors' page on your website. Post information to stop
incorrect information, scams and rumors from hurting your community.  Send
reminders to people to check the rumors page BEFORE they pass along
suspicious information.
 
3) Post rumor-busting information in a designated space, such as the snack
area or mailroom bulletin board. Many people do not surf the web looking for
this kind of information. At CARD, we are major promoters of Potty Poster
Preparedness -- these posters are designed to share empowered safety and
preparedness information with captive audiences, such as users of your
restroom. Post information where people will read it.
 
4) Consider linking to sites like www.Snopes.com <http://www.snopes.com/>.
Barbara and David Mikkelson maintain Snopes, and they debunk urban legends
and rumors of many kinds. A quick visit to the site and you'll find many
examples of safety and disaster related rumors, scams and misinformation.
The "Triangle of Life" email is there, as well as many variations of 9/11
and Y2K fiction and falsehoods.
 
5) Search your own website and resources. Make sure you have removed any
incorrect, outdated or misleading information. If you are using booklets or
pamphlets or other resources that contain outdated or wrong information,
consider creating correction stickers to place on the cover or over the
incorrect advice.
 
6) If you have forwarded incorrect information, be super-zealous about
retracting the wrong information and providing correct information in its
place.
 
7) Help your audiences to be more empowered consumers and more astute
readers. Some of the claims that float around are simply absurd. They get
forwarded onward simply because it has some small grain of truth AND the
person passed it on without thinking. Help people to think it through for
themselves.
 
-- 
Ana-Marie Jones, Executive Director
CARD - Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters
1736 Franklin Street, Suite 450, Oakland, CA 94612
510-451-3140 || Fax: 510-451-3144
www.FirstVictims.org
 
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