Natural disasters are the last thing you want to think about before going on holiday. But knowing a few simple things can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency situation.

Before you leave: 

You should always register with your country's embassy in the destination to which you're travelling. You'll either have to call the embassy directly or some countries allow you to input your travel plans online. For example, US Citizens can make use of the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Here you can enter information about an upcoming trip so that officials can locate and assist you in the event of an emergency. It also ensures that you'll receive crucial updates from local embassies. 

When you arrive: 

Carry local emergency and embassy phone numbers in your wallet, or program them into your phone. When you check into your hotel room, identify safe places to hide in the event of an earthquake - under a heavy desk or table; against an inside wall; away from windows, mirrors or heavy furniture that could fall over - as well as the location of the nearest stairwells. Just a note that contrary to popular belief, doorways are seldom stronger than any other part of a building and should not be your go-to place for shelter in the event of an earthquake.

During an earthquake:

If you're in your hotel room, go immediately to one of your identified safe places, duck down and hold on. For rooms without sturdy furniture, crouch in an inside corner of the building and cover your face and head with your arms.  If the earthquake occurs while you're in bed and there are no overhead light fixtures, stay in bed and protect your head with a pillow. If you are outdoors, move as far away from buildings, overhead utilities and streetlights as possible. Drivers should pull over to an area away from bridges, overpasses and power lines, and stay inside with seatbelts on until the shaking stops.

If you find yourself trapped: Do not strike a match or lighter as you could cause leaking gas to ignite. Cover your mouth with clothing or a handkerchief and move about as little as possible to avoid inhaling potentially dangerous dust. Tap on a pipe or use whistles or other available materials to make noise and alert rescuers. Only shout if you absolutely have to as it may cause you to inhale toxic dust.

After an earthquake:

Wait till the shaking completely stops before leaving your safe place. If the building or hotel that you're in does not seem to have sustained damage, it's best to stay inside. Otherwise, proceed outside by stairways only. It might be a good idea to put on long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes to protect yourself from broken objects. Also watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines. If you're in a low-lying coastal area, listen for tsunami warnings and move to higher ground.

After you've assured that you and your travelling companions are safe, contact your embassy or check your country's foreign office website to find out how best to proceed. Most foreign offices set up special disaster hotlines and email addresses for foreigners abroad seeking assistance.

In the aftermath of an earthquake, be prepared for aftershocks, which can occur minutes to months after the initial quake. Use telephones for emergency calls only in order to keep lines open for disaster response. And be sure to alert friends and family members back home of your safety via the Red Cross Safe and Well registry.

If you seek medical treatment for respiratory illnesses, rashes or other ailments in the weeks after returning home after an earthquake, be sure to alert your doctor to the possibility of dust inhalation or other earthquake related illnesses.

A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessive heat—generally 10 degrees or more above average—that is often combined with excessive humidity.

Heat waves happen when there is trapped air that will feel like the inside of an oven! Usually, the culprit is a high-pressure system that forces air downward. This force prevents air near the ground from rising. The sinking air acts like a cap. It traps warm ground air in place. Without rising air, there was no rain, and nothing to prevent the hot air from getting hotter.

Young children, those who are sick, and the elderly are most susceptible to heat-related illnesses. However, anyone can suffer from a heat-related illness if they over-exert themselves or simply don’t take extreme heat warnings seriously.

While extreme cold is also dangerous, heat waves become life-threatening more quickly if proper precautions are not taken. In recent years, excessive heat has caused more deaths than all other weather events, including floods. Of all natural disasters, heat holds the highest 10-year average of fatalities with 113. 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AND PREVENT HEAT WAVE DANGER

1. Properly install window air conditioners, sealing any cracks and insulating if necessary.
2. Check A/C ducts for proper insulation and clean filters.
3. Install awnings, blinds, or light-colored drapes and keep them closed to keep sunlight and heat out.
4. Upgrade your windows and weather-strip doors to keep heat out and cool air in.
5. Make sure your first aid kit is updated and get trained in first aid relief.
6. Have a plan for wherever you (and your family members/pets) spend time during a heat wave—home, work, and school—and prepare for power outages. Discuss heat safety precautions with members of your household.
7. Check the contents of your emergency disaster kit in case a power outage occurs.
8. Be aware of weather forecasts and the upcoming temperature changes.
9. It’s not just the high temperature. The heat index is the temperature the body feels when the effects of heat and humidity are combined.
10. A backhome home generator is the safest and most reliable solution!  Power outages are common during heatwaves because the need for A/C puts too much pressure on the power grids. A standby generator, however, automatically keeps the A/C running, the lights on, food and medicine from spoiling, and medical devices operating. 

10 TIPS FOR SURVIVING A HEAT WAVE WHILE IT’S HAPPENING

1. Never leave children or pets alone in hot vehicles—even for a second.
2. Stay inside during the hottest part of the day (10 A.M to 4 P.M.) and limit time outside in the Sun. Avoid strenuous activity and postpone outdoor games and events.
3. If A/C is not available, stay indoors on the lowest floor in a well-ventilated area with fans. Keep shades and blinds closed.
4. Stay hydrated with plenty of water—even if you’re not thirsty. Don’t drink alcohol, sugary soda or drinks, or other caffeinated beverages, as they will only make dehydration worse.
5. Eat small meals and eat more often.
6. Use sunscreen and wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing and a hat made of breathable material.
7. During heat waves, tune to a NOAA radio station and listen for weather updates from the National Weather Service (NWS).
8. Visit air-conditioned public spaces such as malls, movie theaters, and libraries to keep cool.
9. Check on family and friends who are more susceptible, especially if they may have lost A/C. Keep your pets indoors and make sure they have access to a cool space and plenty of water.
10. If you feel overheated, cool off with wet washcloths, fans, and a cool sponge bath or shower.

Every home has areas that are safer than others during a disaster. Do a walkthrough of your home to identify and correct the following dangers:

·        Beds under windows. Move beds out from under windows that could break in a disaster.

·        Beds below heavy mirrors, framed pictures, hanging plants. Heavy objects can fall during a disaster.

·        Breakable or heavy objects on shelves. Consider a cabinet with latching doors. Use museum wax to secure fragile items in place

·        Loose latches, such as magnetic push latches on cabinets and cupboards. Cabinets can swing open during a disaster causing contents to spill

·        Glass bottles in medicine cabinets. Put glass containers on lower shelves or near the back.

·        Flammable materials close to heat sources. Painting or cleaning products should be stored in the garage or an outdoor shed.

·        Heavy or glass objects next to exits or escape routes in you home. Move them for easy exit.

·        Objects with wheels. These can roll during a disaster. Block the wheels.

·        Dead or diseased tree limbs near the house. Tree limbs can fall and damage the house or hurt people.

·        Brush, dry grasses or overhanging trees within forty feet of your house.

·        Unreinforced masonry that could fall during high winds or earthquakes (chimneys in particular).

Decide and discuss with your family where the safe and unsafe areas are in your home. Decide where you should meet inside and outside the home when disaster strikes.

Earthquakes happen anywhere. Being prepared is key to survival