Essential skills to remember when an earthquake occurs

Earthquakes are often dangerous, sudden, and unpredictable. If the earthquake is strong, it can cause a tsunami. Where you are when an earthquake occurs will determine what you need to do, specifically:

If you are in a building

- Do not leave the building.

- Kneel down and cover your head with your hands.

- Crawl under a table or sturdy object for cover, using one hand to hold onto the object you are covering.

- Stay away from glass doors, move to the corners of the walls and stay there, bending down as much as possible.

If you are sleeping

- Stay in bed, protect your head with a pillow and lie face down.

- Crawl under the bed or move to another safe place like a corner of the room. When the shaking stops, go outside.

If you are in an elevator.

- If the elevator still has power to operate, quickly exit the elevator, stay in the building or exit the building by stairs.

- If there is a power failure, immediately lie down on the floor, protect your head with your hands, wait until the elevator starts working again or stops shaking, then call for help, use the stairs when exiting the elevator.

While walking on the street

- Do not enter buildings, stay outside.

- Move quickly, avoiding power lines and tall buildings.

- Find areas with open ground for shelter.

While driving

- Find a safe place to stop, preferably off the road.

- Avoid power lines and tall buildings.

- Do not attempt to go under or over the bridge, do not get out of the car until the earthquake stops.

If trapped in the rubble

- Stay calm, don't move.

- Protect your nose and mouth with a shirt or scarf.

- Do not use lighters or matches for lighting, do not scream when smoke and dust are still present.

- Try to signal the location of the jam by whistle or knocking or banging on nearby metal plates or pipes.