This article by Doug Copp, rescue chief and disaster manager of the American Rescue International, is again going the rounds of the internet following the earthquake in China that has claimed the lives of more than 40,000 people.
Copp says “when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the ‘triangle of life’. The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the ‘triangles’ you see formed. They
are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a
collapsed building.”
Pray for no earthquakes. But when it happens, remember these tips taken from Copp:
1) Most everyone who simply ‘ducks and covers’ when buildings collapse are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.
2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.
3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.
4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on The back of the door of every room telling
occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.
5) If an earthquake happens 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.
6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!
7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different ‘moment of frequency’ (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads – horribly mutilated.
Even if the building doesn’t collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake,
they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.
8) Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible. It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape
route will be blocked.
9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway.
The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their
cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids three feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.
10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.
Spread the word and save someone’s life… The entire world is
experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!
A very timely and informative post. Thanks, Ellen.
If I may add, during a fire, if you manage to get your furnitures and appliances out of the house, make sure you keep them in a safe distance – 20 to 30 feet away. This was my experience, our neighbor was quick to respond and get all their things out but they stacked them about 15 feet away, a few minutes later, these too started combusting. Our house was totally razed to the ground though.
Especially in urban neigborhoods, high concrete walls function like a convection oven all combustible materials enclosed by the walls burn rapidly even without direct contact with fire. Open spaces are not as destructive though.
Just sharing.
Sunod sunod ang malalaking calamities all over the world. The US has its own share of disasters too. Fires took the biggest share.
PSB:
Forest forest in the US, more often than not, are caused by people, intentionally and otherwise, like those fires recently in Southern California. Ang nakakatakot iyong tornado at hurricane especially around or near Texas, the home state of the mad man at the White House.
Hopefully, the next US president will not see such seeming heavenly wrath.
PSB:
Forest fire in the US, more often than not, are caused by people, intentionally and otherwise, like those fires recently in Southern California. Ang nakakatakot iyong tornado at hurricane especially around or near Texas, the home state of the mad man at the White House.
Hopefully, the next US president will not see such seeming heavenly wrath.
Sunod-sunod ang kalamidad kung saan-saan as prophesied. “And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. (Luke 21: 8-13)
Over in our church, we are in fact told for years now to store food for as long as we can possibly. I, myself, have bought sleeping bags for each of us in my family, a 72-hour emergency kit in backpacks complete with non-battery operated flashlights and radios. OK lang kung isang lugar lang ang nalindol and the government and everyone can pitch in to help, e papaano na kung buong bansa ang masalanta like what happened to Sichuan in China. Halos kasing laki ng Japan o Pilipinas ang lugar na iyan sa totoo lang.
Kailangang magsisi na sa mga kasalanan! Baka maabutan ng disgrasya ng walang sa oras, mahirap na!
Ilakip sa bible yan. No wonder many died in the China quake. Wala sa Fungshui ang Triangle of Life. I saw in the TV someone crouched under a desk or was it a table during the quake. A legacy from Japanese experience. Wala yatang Philippine legacy na nakawan doon ng aid. Dito, namarkahan na ng mga pangalan ng mayors at iba pang mapagsamantala. Sila ang Triangle ng Pinsala.
Off topic but Tribune has reported that Ambassador Siazon has informed the DFA that the Japanese psychopath, Hiroshi Nozaki, has been indicted for murdering and chopping off his Filipino lover, not wife because they were not married and were just simply cohabiting.
It says in part, “The charge of murder carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.” This is wrong as a matter of fact because murder in Japan is punishable also by death or life imprisonment depending on the motive and circumstances.
In the case of Nozaki, he is likely to get death or life imprisonment for this and another murder committed less than 10 years ago, and there is no way he can go scotfree this time even when some people may insist that he is crazy. More often than not, a plea of insanity is not considered over here. Katwiran kasi, kung matino nga naman ang isang tao, hindi naman gagawa ng karumaldumal na bagay. Sa Amerika, etc. lang nakakalusot iyan.
If the guy will not contest the charge, the case may be over in one or two hearings. Otherwise, it can drag on for years depending on the argument, evidences, etc. the defense may try to present. On the whole, maayos naman dito. Di naman katulad sa Pilipinas na nababayaran ang mga hukom, et al.
Lesson to be learned from the China and other quakes is that life is but a transition, and if one’s time has come, no matter what precaution one takes, he will die no matter what.
Meron nga dito, isang pilipina, 13 beses sinaksak ng isang binayarang pilipinong mamamatay tao, hindi pa rin namatay. Nabuhay! “Salbahe kasi,” sabi noong mga galit sa kaniya. Sabi nga, “Only the good die young.”
Bakit kaya napinsala ang China at Myanmar? Ito ba ay kaparusahan of karma sa kanila? Sana hindi ang mga inosenting tao ang namatay mga salbaheng leaders na lang sana nila.
I survive the earthquake in Baguio in July of 1990 and its a fateful experience that I will never forget.Anyway if you also happened to be in a high rise building when an earthquake strikes,dont run down the stairs instead run up and try to reach the roof top,notice that when a building collapses the roof top is always intact while the lower floors collapses,many also died because of stampede when people rushes down the stairs but going up is less crowded and safer….
Salamat Ate Ellen. Very informative ang article mo. I will email this article to my loved-ones and friends. But of course we should always pray that God will spare us from all calamities and dangers.
If may I add too, get away from anything that catches fire immediately, gas stove, garage where there is a stored fuel, and other harmful chemicals that can emit poisonous gas. The problem with earthquake is that it comes so fast.
This is true. Over in Japan, we participate in emergency drills at least once a year, and one of the things emphasized in the training is to make sure that all sources of fire be extinguished immediately when the tremor is felt.
Fire in fact was one of the main causes for the large number of casualties during the great Hanshin earthquake in 1995. It happened early in the morning during the coldest month in Japan, and a lot many people having their kerosene heaters on or early risers getting ready with their morning meals.
There was a poignant scene in fact of rescuers trying to save a woman trapped in the rubble of a burning building.
They could hear her asking them for help as she was being burned alive. They tried but the slabs were just too hot to hold.
They could not use any crane because it could cause more damage. They actually failed to save her with the husband watching in horror. In fact, that rescue effort was just too gruesome to watch. But miracle of miracles, they found the son under the rubble nearby. It was good enough consolation for the grief and horror everyone felt for the wife, whose charred body was found later.
“PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday ordered the release of P500 million for emergency shelter assistance to victims of storm “Cosme” following an aerial inspection in Lingayen, Pangasinan and Sta. Cruz, Zambales,” says a Malaya report.
Bakit basta-basta na lang pinapayagan ang magnanakaw na ito ng pagre-release daw ng mga pondo para sa mga ganitong kalamidad na hindi nalalaman ng mga nasa Kongreso at Senado? Wow, akala mo talagang siya na ang may-ari ng kaban ng bayan ha? Yuck!
Siguruhing mabuti kung saan pupunta ang bulk ng pondong iyan. Remember, malapit na naman ang SONA at bayaran doon sa mga palakpak brigade niya kasama na iyong mga sipsip na kinatawan galing sa Pampanga, Bulacan, at pamilya ng ungas na akala mo mga prinsipeng may hold na Kongreso.
Sa totoo lang, nakakarimarim na bakit pumapayag ang mga pilipino sa pang-aabusong ito. Unbelievable talaga para sa akin. Dito nga nasa hot water ngayon iyong governor ng Osaka tungkol sa pagtaas ng mga sahod ng pulis, etc. Hindi siya puedeng magdesisyon na hindi kumukunsulta sa mga mamayan na nasasakop niya. Ganyan sana sa Pilipinas na yabang ng yabang lang tungkol sa demokrasyang hindi naman yata naiintindihan ng marami.
Kawawang bansa!
Off-topic, but I just saw a sketch of the alleged suspect in the burning of a Victory Liner bus. Kamukha ni Yano! 😛
Dr Kwak, though earthquake comes so fast the shaking usually lasted at least 2 to3minutes (for a stronger one),and it is the after shocks that always causes many buildings to collapse which happens after a few minutes from the initial turmoil.So in this time frame you still have time to run and seek for an open space for safety. Many of those who perished in Hyatt hotel in Baguio, went back inside the building after the earthquake and was trapped when a strong aftershock minutes later leveled the building.
we have not experienced any tremors or earthquake as we are not supposed to be on the fault line, the North East, but we always get all kinds of storms, and hurricanes, but thanks to the preparations and corrective measures done after the devastation’s of Hurricane Hazel, the flush flooding the killed a number of people in the city of Toronto alone has not repeated again. Water shed were protected, large forested areas were expropriated and designated Conservation areas and storm drainage were widened and reconstructed to absorb the sudden influx of storm water and construction were strictly monitored to comply with all safety codes..natural and man-made disasters strikes randomly, it’s always better be prepared to minimize the injuries and fatalities and if possible avoid them..
It is also compulsory to have smoke alarms in every house and rental accommodation and the same with carbon monoxide detectors. Emergency services are just minutes away when summoned…
grizzy,
Hindi pera ang pinamigay ni Pandak kundi ticket. Mare-redeem mo yung P1000 pagkatapos macertify ng Barangay Captain na nakapagtrabaho ka ng 5 days sa paglilinis ng mga nasira ng bagyo.
Galit yung mga kamag-anak ng mga kakilala ko. Una pagta-trabahuhan din lang pala nila, tulong ba iyon? Isa pa, nasa P300 na yata ang minimum wage sa Pangasinan, yung P1000 sa 5 araw e P200 lang. Yung nainterview sa TV sabi nung matanda, “anong silbi ng ticket, matanda na ako, wala naman akong anak at asawa pero nasira ng bagyo ang bahay ko, paano na ako?”
Totoo ba iyan, Tongue? Hanip din ha? Pero sabi ko nga, lumang tugtugin na. Pangurakot lang ni Gloria Dorobo iyan. Tiket-tiket na wala namang silbi. Nangloloko pa! Pihado iyong mga barangay captain, sila-sila rin ang kumukupit noong pera para sa mga nasalanta. Pwe! Walang halos tulak kabigin!
No wonder maraming mga pilipino dito sa Japan sa totoo lang ang ayaw nang umuwi. Kumukulo nga ang dugo ko doon sa mga pilipinong nagpapa-TV pa na sinasabing ayaw daw nilang umuwi na sa bansa nila dahil mamal-adjusted sila. Susmaryosep! E bakit sa Japan na hindi naman sila maka-assimilate, nakakatagal sila?
On the other hand, kung sabagay, di hamak namang maganda ang palakad dito sa Japan. Pag may salanta talagang makakakuha ng tulong sa pamahalaan. Siyempre titignan naman kung doble-doble ang kabig gaya noong may mga insurance naman, temporary relief lang ang puwedeng mahingi. Iyong talagang walang-wala, provided ng housing, etc. Kaya papaanong mamahalin talaga ng mga pilipino ang bansa nilang wala naman nakikitang concern?
Nagiging superficial tuloy ang mga damdamin nila sa bayan nila di gaya ng tunay na pagmamahal halimbawa ng Mister ko at anak sa bansa nila. Walang sinabi iyong professed love of country noong mga sumukong sundalong kasama ni Senator Trillanes sa totoo lang!
Pagtapos ng audit, lalabas naubos yung P500M. Samantalang hindi naman lahat nakatanggap dahil nga may ticket. Putris na yan, nasira na ang palaisdaan ko magtatrabaho pa ako ng limang araw para lang sa P1000!
Nagpuntahan nga yung mga taga Sta. Cruz, Zambales duon sa plaza kung saan dumating si Pandak, muntik magka-riot dahil hindi lahat nabigyan ng food packs. Pinapila sa init ng araw, iilan lang ang binigyan dahil symbolic lang daw yung pag-aabot ni Pandak ng relief sabi ng Mayor. Sa mga barangay na lang daw ibibigay.
Malinaw na photo-op lang talaga. Symbolic, letse!
Mapipilitan kang magmura talaga. Linggung-linggo, buwisit na balita lang ang bubungad, huwag na lang sana. Buti nga ang Malaya walang balita pag-linggo. At least, bawas ang temptation na mademonyo. Gotta go to church. Ipagdarasal ko nang malapit nang matapos ang pagdurusa ng mga pilipino sa pagbagsak ni Gloria Dorobo. Hopefully, hindi makakatakas ang ungas at diyan sa Pilipinas makukulong. Amen.
Tongue,
Hindi mga lihitimong mga tiga Sta.Cruz,Zambales iyung mga nagpunta sa Plaza dahil matataas ang pride chicken ng mga Zambaleno.Alam ni Mayor Marte at Amor Deloso ang karakas ng tunay na Zambaleno.Marami ng pinagdaanan ang Zambales sa ganyang klaseng disater pero bumabangon sila at hindi sila umaasa sa gobyerno.Nakapagtataka naman bakit nagpunta pa si Pandak doon.Sabi nga ng mga kasanga ko doon tulong-tulong silang lahat para maayos ang mga daan na naharangan ng mga debris na sanga-sanga ng mga punong kahoy at mga bumalandrang mga bubong sa kalsada para makadaan sila, na walang inaasahang kapalit na suweldo.
Kung nagtagal pa si pandak doon baka ginawa siyang bopis ng mga Zambaleno.
Marami kasing mga Mekine na lumipat doon ng nagalit si Pinatubo at tinabunan ng lahar ang lugar nila at hindi na sila umalis.Sila ngayon ang bumababoy sa takbo ng election doon dahil ipinagbibili nila ang kanilang boto.Ang takbo ng election doon noon ay maayos,didcated ang mga botante sa kanilang napupusuang kandidato at hindi sila nabibibili,tapat sila sa isang kandidato matalo man at manalo.Pagkatapos ng election ay nagkakantiyawan sila sa palengke at magkakaibigan at magkukumapre na naman.Walang samaan ng loob.Parang pinagsabong lang na manok ang mga kandidato doon.Ganador kapag nanalo sila at tinola naman ang labas ng natalo.Itong bandang huli ay naging money talk na.Maniwala ka ba na ang mga boto lang ng mga nanalong mga mayor doon ay nagtatalo lang sa ilang daan,hindi umaabot ang agwat sa mahigit isang libo.Iyung nga lang sa walong konsehal dalawang daan ang kandidato.Sa pagka meyor ay dalawa lang ang naglalaban.
Doon sa bayan nga namin ay may kumandidato na kapangpangan ang apelyido,sinabi ko sa mga kabig doon bakit ninyo iboboto iyan,hindi naman siya Zambaleno,ayun lagi siyang bokya.Kakandidato na naman daw sa 2010,malakas din ang loob ng loko.Hehehe!
Sana nga Cocoy. Kawawa na yung mga tao, ginawa pang busasbos ni Pandak. Pinapila sa wala. Yung “tulong” daw e paghihirapan pa ng limang araw, wala nang masilungan at makain.