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.