You’re working at your desk when suddenly the room begins to sway or everything begins shaking. It’s an earthquake. What do you do?
On January 26, in an effort to prepare people for a potentially damaging earthquake, Douglas students, employees and visitors, along with thousands of other British Columbians, will participate in the largest earthquake drill in Canadian history.
Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for the Great British Columbia ShakeOut.
The drill is happening on the anniversary of the 9.0 magnitude “megathrust” quake that rocked the west coast of North America, from BC to California, in 1700. The geological record tells us that megathrust earthquakes occur in this region on average once every 500-600 years. Some have been as close together as 200 years.
“Seismic experts tell us that we can expect a major destructive earthquake in BC," says Nancy Constable, Director of Safety and Security and leader of the drill. “We don’t know when it might hit. This drill is about practising how to protect ourselves when it does.”
What to do
At around 10:05am at both campuses, you will hear an announcement that a “Drop, Cover and Hold On” earthquake drill is about to begin.
When you are advised that the drill is starting, drop (carefully!) to the ground, take cover under a desk or table and hold on. If you are not near a desk or table, or are physically unable to drop, cover and hold on, then cover your head and neck with your arms and crouch – away from any glass – in a corner.
The drill will last 60 seconds, and you will be advised when it’s over.
Nancy says it’s crucial that people “hardwire” the correct action to take in the event of an earthquake.
“This is about how to take that immediate life-saving, injury-reducing action. In a small or moderate quake you may hear objects rattling in your office or classroom, or feel a quiver under your feet. In a large quake the ground or floor will move – possibly violently – and you may feel dizzy and unable to walk. You will probably feel shaking and rolling.
"You need to drop, cover and hold on.”
Click here for more information on the Great British Columbia ShakeOut.
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I thought all the new studies are showing, (and is now being taught in elementary schools) not to get under a desk?
ReplyDeleteMy impression was that you are now supposed to find a "void," such as lying long next to a couch. The concept being falling generally do not land flat leaving air pockets lengthwise along sturdy objects. They suggest interior walls, strong desks and couches.
This opinion has developed as rescuers state this is where survivors are found, and Haiti's earthquake and the world trade center exemplified this.
Many school children in Haiti were found crushed under their desks as the floor above them collapsed and their desks offered no protection.
Good idea but I don't even go to douglas till 12pm
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you have raised this concern.
ReplyDeleteThe "void" that you are describing is also known as the "triangle of life" and is not the appropriate action to take in a North American earthquake; following the Haiti earthquake this theory was circulated over the internet and it has been widely refuted by experts.
Drop, Cover & Hold On is the appropriate and recommended action to take in an earthquake in BC and North America.
Experts including the Canadian (and American) Red Cross, the Provincial Emergency Program, the Canadian government and the Earthquake Alliance of BC continue to affirm that Drop, Cover and Hold On is the right action to protect yourself.
We have stringent building codes and construction standards in North America and the risks in a North American earthquake are more likely to be non-structural, such as items falling on you...you can protect yourself by Dropping, Covering & Holding On.
On January 26th at 10:05...I'll be under my desk!
I also want to add that as a physics teacher - and someone who reads up on Earthquakes - I will also be under my desk. Nancy Constable has mentioned the experts. I also encourage you to think. If a person might get crushed by something falling on them such as a light fixture if they are "out in the open" then they are going to hit by the light fixture and hurt. If they are under a desk and the light fixture lands on the desk either a) Best case - the strong desk stays upright and prevents the light fixture from landing on the desk or b) the light fixture is so heavy it causes the desk to collapse and the student is trapped under the desk and the light fixture. Not a good situation but the same as if they were not under the desk. c) the so called triangle of life in this case would only be a few centimetres "high" as a collapsed desk is not very thick. Not enough to save the person from injury. d) If you are talking about something large that you cannot get under - such as a filing cabinet or a big sofa then yes -stay beside it. Either the light fixture will miss the cabinet and sofa and hit you directly, or it will land on the cabinet or sofa and you might have a few centimetres of space. I repeat might. You want to get under something that is sturdy. Good North American building standards and quality of desk is such that the safest place to be is under that desk. During the drill, that is where I am going to be. Sadly - not everything you read on the internet or web is true. Look at the sources - and then look at how your personal situation might be different from the one being mentioned in the article. Drop, cover and hold.
ReplyDeleteI would be glad to have my name clearly on the last comment. Jennifer Kirkey...physics instructor. I could not figure out how to do so. Please help - or add it.
ReplyDeleteIt'll definitely be interesting! Better to be safe than sorry, right? Its only 60 seconds, so no big deal.
ReplyDeleteMany of the desks at the college do not have legs to hold on to. The desk tops are supported by flat surfaces which you can't really get a grip on. Is it sufficient to just crouch under the desk?
ReplyDeleteAs well there are often heavy loose objects under desks such as computer towers. Do these pose a risk if you are under a desk with them?
Many of the desks described are typically quite heavy and solid and yes, you should crouch under the desk; the reason you are advised to hold on is that some furniture - such as a classroom table -is lighter in weight and will offer you protection from falling objects, however if the floor is shaking the table will move. You want to hang on so that you and the table "stay together" during the movement.
ReplyDeleteMany employees on campus have taken this opportunity to rearrange, or where possible, remove items from under their desks to maximize the space available
for earthquake protection.
Question: What do we do if we are in one of the theatres that has a high ceiling, has no desks, and where there is nothing to get under?
ReplyDeleteIf you have nothing to get under you should crouch/stay low and use your arms to protect your neck and head.
ReplyDeletei was in the library under a computer table and was thinking about all of the books that would be flying around in a real earthquake!
ReplyDelete