MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY SAFE, BEFORE DISASTER STRIKES

What to do BEFORE an earthquake?

·       Learn about Earthquakes, its causes and effects and talk about it with your friends and family, especially children, in a calm and composed manner.

·       Keep a torch and portable transistor radio, at a handy place.

·       Arrange your work place and house in such a way that it is possible to move more easily, keeping corridors clear of furniture and toys.

·       Attach shelves, vases and flowerpots to the walls of your home.

·       Place heavy or bulky objects on the floor or on the lowest shelves.

·       Teach all members of your family how to turn off electricity, water and gas supply.

·       Keep your important documents at a safe location, near the exit of your house, so that you can remove them in case of an emergency.

·       Scan all important documents and email to yourself. You can take a print out later, if required and apply for duplicates.

·       Learn First Aid, Fire Fighting, Search and Rescue.

·       Join Civil Defence and Red Cross etc.

What to do DURING an earthquake?

If you are at home or inside a building.    

·       Do not panic. Keep calm and keep others calm.

·       Do not rush to the doors or exits; don’t use lifts;    

·       Keep well away from windows, mirrors, chimneys and furniture.

·       Protect yourself by staying under the lintel of an inner door, in the corner of a room, under a table or even under a bed.

·       Practice Drop Cover and Hold.

If you are in the street:

·       Walk towards an open place; in a calm and composed manner.

·       Do not run and do not loiter around the streets

·       Keep away from buildings, especially old and tall buildings, electricity wires, bridges, slopes and walls which may collapse.

If you are driving:

·       Stop the vehicle away from bridges, flyovers, buildings, walls, slopes, electricity wires and cables and stay in the vehicle.

What to do AFTER an earthquake?

·       Keep calm, switch on the radio and obey instructions given.

·       Expect aftershocks and be prepared.

·       Turn off water, gas and electric supply, if the building is damaged.

·       Do not smoke and do not light matches or a lighter, do not turn on switches. There may be gas leaks or short-circuits.

·       Use a torch.

·       If there is fire, try to put it out. If you cannot, call the fire brigade. Call 101.

·       If people are seriously injured, do not move them unless they are in danger.

·       If you know that people have been buried, tell the rescue teams. Do not try to evacuate the injured unless you are trained. Remember Safety first.

·       Avoid places where there are loose electric wires and don’t touch any metallic object in contact with them.

·       Do not drink water from open containers without having examined and filtered it through a sieve, a filter or an ordinary clean cloth.

·       Eat something. You will be more capable of helping others.

·       If your home is badly damaged you should leave it.

·       Collect important documents, water containers, food, medicines, before leaving the house.

·       Do not re-enter badly damaged buildings and do not go near damaged structures.

·       Do not believe in rumours.

Issued in public interest:

Aamir Ali, Deputy Chief Warden, Civil Defence, Srinagar and Executive Director/Secretary J&K State Social Welfare Board