Earthquakes

Before - How to prevent

• Draw up an emergency plan for the whole family and practice it regularly
• Arrange an alternative means of contact and a meeting point
• Inform yourself about the possible effects of an earthquake and the areas exposed to tsunami danger. Talk about it calmly and calmly with your family and friends

• Prepare an emergency kit
  In the event of a serious accident or disaster, having an Emergency Kit ensures that essential needs are met and that you can survive in the first moments after the event. The Emergency Kit should contain essential items: water, dry or canned food, a flashlight, a whistle, a battery-operated radio and spare batteries, a thermal blanket, personal hygiene items, essential medicines and a first aid kit. Check the expiry date of the various items regularly. If you have pets, keep a supply of food with you

• Identify the safest places: interior doorways, corners of master walls, under tables and beds

• Free up passageways to facilitate movement

• Move beds away from windows and avoid placing heavy objects on top of them

• Secure heavier and bulkier furniture and decorative elements to the wall, such as bookcases, bunk beds, cupboards, pictures, vases and planters

• Use safety straps to secure household appliances and equipment that present a risk of falling

• Place heavy objects on the floor or on lower shelves

• Install safety latches on drawers and cupboard doors to prevent objects from falling out

• Apply self-adhesive film to window panes or use curtains to prevent accidents caused by broken or flying glass

• Promote the regular inspection of gas, water and electricity installations and teach family members how to carry out their safety cuts

During - How to act

If you are inside a building

• Take cover in an interior doorway, in the corner of a room, under a table or a bed
• Stay away from windows, mirrors, lamps and furniture. Stay protected until the earthquake is over.

If you are in the street

• Find an open space, away from buildings, electricity pylons, slopes and walls that could collapse
• If you are driving, stop in an open space and stay inside the vehicle

If you are in a riverside area

• Immediately walk away to higher ground
• Follow the evacuation signs, if there are any, until you reach the meeting point. If this is not possible, climb to a high floor of a building without damage
• Stay away from the riverside area until you receive information from the authorities that there is no longer any danger

After - How to act

Stay calm and be prepared for possible aftershocks

• Turn on the radio and follow the recommendations of the authorities
• Don't rush for the stairs or exits and never use the elevators
• Do not use the telephone, except in an extreme emergency
• When going out, do so calmly and watch out for structures that could fall and overhead electrical wires
• Do not smoke or light matches or lighters
• Shut off water, gas and electricity
• Clean up any spills of flammable products
• Avoid places where there are hanging or fallen electrical wires
• Avoid driving through the streets, clear them for emergency vehicles