Three key actions and tips to protect ourselves during an earthquake or earthquake

The possibility of an earthquake surprising us even in places where they are unlikely to occur was evident this Friday, when a magnitude 4.8 event hit the east coast of the United States, shaking buildings and houses in New York and New Jersey, according to journalists from the Voice of Americato.

According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of the earthquake was located in Tewksbury, New Jersey, about 64 kilometers west of New York City. It occurred around 10:20 in the morning, at a depth of 4.7 kilometers.

How do you stay safe if you live in areas where earthquakes are common or even in places where notable seismic activity rarely occurs?

Below we list some of the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States (CDC).

In accordance with According to the CDC, there are three actions that could reduce your risk during the occurrence of an earthquake or earthquake:

Three Actions That Could Save You: Drop, Cover, and Hold On

In most situations you can protect yourself if you immediately:

• Crouches down and gets on the ground on his hands and knees before the earthquake knocks it down. This position will prevent you from falling, but allows you to move if necessary.
• COVERS THE HEAD AND NECK (and the whole body if possible) protecting yourself under a sturdy table or desk. If you are not near shelter, crouch near an interior wall or next to low furniture that will not fall on you, and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.
• HOLDS ON TO YOUR PROTECTION (or your head and neck) until you stop shaking. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking moves you.

What to do depending on where you are when an earthquake occurs?

1- If you are inside, stay inside

DO NOT leave your home or run to other rooms during an earthquake. You are less likely to get injured if you stay where you are.

To reduce the chance of being injured, do the following:

• If possible, in the few seconds before the shaking intensifies, quickly move away from glass objects, hanging objects, book shelves, display cases, or other large furniture that could fall. Watch for objects that could fall, such as fireplace bricks and flues, lamps, items hanging from walls, high shelves, and cabinets with doors that could open.
• If there are any objects nearby, use them to protect your head and face from falling debris and broken glass.
• If you are in the kitchen and have the stove on, turn it off quickly and find shelter as soon as you feel the shaking.
• If you are in bed, wait and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow. You are less likely to get injured if you stay where you are. Broken glass on the floor can cause injuries if you walk or lie on the floor.

DO NOT stand under a door frame. It will be safer under a table. In modern homes, door frames are no stronger than other parts of the house, AND they will not protect you from the most likely cause of injury, falling or thrown objects. Most earthquake-related injuries and deaths are caused by objects falling or being thrown into the air (such as TVs, lamps, glass, or book shelves), or being knocked to the ground.

2. If you are in a tall building, drop, cover and hold on.

• Stay away from windows and outside walls.
• Stay in the building.
• DO NOT use the elevators. The power may go out and the fire sprinklers may come on.
• If you get trapped, stay calm. Try to attract attention by hitting hard or metal parts of the structure. This could increase the likelihood of being rescued.

• 3- -If you are in a place with many people

• Don't run under door frames. Others will have the same idea.
• Stay away from shelves that have items that could fall.
• If you can, take cover and grab something to protect your head and face from falling debris or glass.

• 4-If you are outside, stay outside

• Stay away from buildings, power lines, sinkholes, and fuel and gas lines. The greatest danger from falling debris is just outside doors and near the exterior walls of buildings.
• Go to an open area, away from trees, telephone poles and buildings. Once outside, crouch down and stay there until the shaking stops.
• The area near the exterior walls of a building is the most dangerous place. Windows, facades, and architectural details are often the first parts of a building to collapse. Stay away from this danger zone.

• 5-If you are in a moving vehicle, stop as soon and as safely as you can.

• Park your car on the side of the road or sidewalk, away from power poles, overhead wires, and overpasses.
• Stay in the car and set the parking brake. Although the car may rock violently on its springs, it is a good place to stay until the shaking stops.
• Turn on the radio to listen to emergency broadcasts.
• If a power line falls on your car, stay inside until a qualified person removes the wire.
• When it is safe to start driving again, watch for hazards created by the earthquake, such as cracks in the pavement, downed power poles and wires, flooding, downed overpasses, or collapsed bridges.

• 6-If you are in a stadium or movie theater, stay in your seat. Protect your head and neck with your arms or in any way possible.

• Do not go out until the shaking stops.
• When you go out, stay alert for anything that could fall during aftershocks.

• 7-If you are near the coast, drop, cover and hold on until the shaking stops.

• If a strong tremor lasts 20 seconds or more, evacuate directly to higher ground because the earthquake may have generated a tsunami.
• Immediately move 2 miles (3 kilometers) inland or to terrain that is at least 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level. Don't wait for officials to issue a warning.
• Walk quickly, instead of driving, to avoid traffic, debris, and other hazards.

• 8-If you cannot get down on the ground, try to sit or stay seated to avoid being knocked over by something.

• If you are in a wheelchair, put the brakes on the wheels. Remove any items from the wheelchair that are not securely attached to it.
• Protect your head and neck with a large book, a pillow, or your arms. The goal is to prevent injuries from falls or from objects that could fall on you or be thrown toward you.
• If you can, seek shelter under a solid table or sturdy desk. Stay away from exterior walls, windows, fireplaces and hanging objects.
• If you cannot move from a bed or chair, protect yourself as best as possible from falling objects by covering yourself with sheets and pillows.
• If you are outside, go to an open area, away from trees, telephone poles, and buildings, and stay there.

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