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Safety: Learn how to remain safe during an earthquake

Note: In recognition of National Safety Month, the Transporter will publish a series of articles to promote safety. The ITD Safety Team encourages employees to put an extra focus this month into weekly safety meetings at work and to use the information at home as applicable.

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"Make a Difference" is the theme of the National Safety Council's 2008 observance of National Safety Month. This month provides an opportunity to focus on educating Americans about the alarming increase in accidental deaths and to promote safe and healthy behaviors in all aspects of our lives.

We are providing information that will address injury prevention in areas with the greatest risks in the workplace, on the road and in our homes and communities; to focus on keeping our families safe with topics such as 'Poison Prevention' and 'What to do During an Earthquake.' Most preventable injuries happen where you'd think you're safest – at home. In fact, the National Safety Council estimates that 17 million people were injured at home and 62,000 died from their injuries. The leading cause of injuries and deaths came from: Poisonings, falls, choking, drowning and fires/flames. The focus this week is on personal responses during an earthquake.

What to do during an earthquake
Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.

If indoors
• DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
• Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
• Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway.
• Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
• Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
• DO NOT use the elevators

If outdoors
• Stay there
• Move away from buildings, streetlights and utility wires
• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle
• Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses and utility wires.
• Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris
• Do not light a match
• Do not move about or kick up dust
• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing
• Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.
Source: www.fema.org

Reminder: Earthquakes happen close to home.
The historic district of Wells, Nev., sustained severe damage Thursday, Feb. 21, after an earthquake hit the small eastern Nevada town. The magnitude of the quake, initially estimated at 6.3, was later revised to 6.0 by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colo.