Nepal's Nature Earthquakes Earthquake Safety Tips Do's & Don'ts

Earthquake Safety Tips Before Earthquake Develop and Carry out a Family Emergency Plan Prepare Emergency Supplies Prepare Emergency Kit Safeguard your home by regular maintenance

Earthquake Safety Tips During Earthquake indoors - outside - in a vehicle After Earthquake Do's & Don'ts

Check before

These are some actions you can take to prepare for an earthquake:

top

Develop and Carry out a Family Emergency Plan

	Explain the earthquake risk and discuss the emergency plan with your family.
	Identify the safe and unsafe places in each room at home (and in the office). Safe places are under well-built furniture such as heavy tables, against an inside wall, close to door frames and supporting pillars. Also find out the best way to escape from each room.
	Identify the safe and unsafe places in each room at home (and in the office). Safe places are under well-built furniture such as heavy tables, against an inside wall, close to door frames and supporting pillars. Also find out the best way to escape from each room.
	Identify a safe place outside your home. The safe places are empty fields away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines etc.
	Ask an out-of-city/country relative or friend to be your family's contact. Family members should call this person and tell them where they are if they are unable to go or call home.
	Teach each family member what to do during an earthquake, and reinforce the learning by having drills.
	Show each family member how and when to turn off the water, gas, and electricity supply at the main sources.
	Know where the nearest fire, police stations and emergency medical centres are, as well as those who can help you during an emergency. For example, a neighbour who is a doctor.
	Plan for people with special needs such as babies, the elderly, and the pregnant.
	Paste a list of updated emergency telephone numbers on your telephone.
	Stock emergency supplies. Change the items every six months. Stock some supplies in the office too.
	Assemble an emergency kit in an easy-to-carry bag. Prepare one kit each for your home, car and office. Change the items every six months.
	Learn first-aid.
	Learn to use the fire extinguisher.
	Coordinate an emergency plan with your children's school and your neighbours.

top

Prepare Emergency Supplies

Stock some supplies in your home and office. Change the items every six months.

	Adequate supplies of medications that you or your family members are taking
	Tools to turn off electricity, gas and water supplies (and place at the main source)
	First-aid kit and handbook
	Drinking water for each family member for at least 3 days (allow at least 1 gallon per person per day)
	Non-perishable food such as canned and package foods, dried fruits and nuts, salt, sugar, cereals, beaten rice, lakhamari, dalmoth etc. Remember to cater for family members with special needs (for example milk powder for the baby).
	Camp stove or barbecue to cook outdoors (with fuel stored out of the reach of children)
	Clothing materials such as underwear, shoes, blankets etc.
	Sanitary materials such as toilet papers, soaps, plastic garbage bags, personal hygiene items etc.

top

Prepare Emergency Kit

These things should already be packed in an easy-to-carry bag, ready for any emergency. Prepare one kit each for your home, car and office. Change the items every six months.

	Adequate supplies of medications that you or your family members are taking
	Drinking water, in 1 or 2 liters bottles
	Non-perishable food such as canned and package foods, dried fruits and nuts, cereals, beaten rice, lakhamari, dalmoth etc.
	Flashlights with extra bulbs and batteries
	Portable radio with extra batteries
	Water purifier tablets
	Mechanical can opener or Swiss army knife
	Copies of important family Publications (such as birth and marriage certificates, passports, insurance papers, bank Publications etc.) and important telephone numbers.
	Copies of your house plan (useful in case of search and rescue action)
	Money
	Duplicate set of keys

top

Safeguard your home by regular maintenance

	Store large, heavy or fragile objects on lower shelves or in low, closed cabinets > Remove flower pots from balconies and parapets
	Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds
	Repair damaged electrical wiring and leaky gas connections
	Bolt tall furniture and appliances such as bookshelves, refrigerators to walls
	Bolt tall furniture and appliances such as bookshelves, refrigerators to walls
	Limit the sliding and rocking movement of furniture and electrical appliances by using Velcro, straps, non-slip mats etc.
	Use positive-latches such as childproof latches in cabinets
	Support overhead light fixtures and fans with extra cables

Nepal Earthquakes April 2015 A M 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal Nepal's Geology Kathmandu Valley

Nepal

Links

External Links

IRIN News Densely-populated Kathmandu facing increased earthquake risk National Society for Earthquake Technology - Nepal (NSET)

Nepal