As the house begins to shake,
you remember your friend telling you
to get under a door frame to be safe.
So that’s what you should do, right?
Well, unless your house was built
many years ago,
this is not the best survival tip.
As the earthquake continues,
you can’t help but wonder
what other bad information
have you been given.
Smaller earthquakes of magnitude two
or lower occur hundreds of times
each day across the globe.
Major earthquakes registering
magnitude seven on the Richter scale
occur about once per month,
while magnitude eight earthquakes
and higher occur once per year.
With this kind of frequency,
we should probably review what not to do
if you find yourself in an earthquake.
This idea that door frames are stronger
than other parts of the house comes from
a bygone era when it was safe to do.
Older houses were built a little sturdier,
with heavier wooden frames
that were designed to last.
But modern homes have doorways
that are no stronger
than any other area of the house.
Plus, a doorway won’t protect you
from flying debris,
and you might not be able
to brace yourself
as everything is shaking around you.
Usually, a window is a great place
to escape.
But in an earthquake, it can be deadly.
You might think that being near a window
keeps you away from debris and closer
to the frame of the building,
but shards of broken glass can be fatal
if they hit you.
Sure, stairs might seem like the quickest
path to safety,
but they can be deceptively dangerous
in an earthquake.
Stairsteps can quickly become shrapnel
if a building collapses.
Stay off them,
and definitely don't try hiding under them.
If you happen to be enjoying a quiet night
in front of the fireplace
when the earthquake hits,
you will need to extinguish
the fire immediately.
If there is a gas leak,
which is quite possible
during an earthquake,
the flame could trigger an explosion.
It may seem like a good plan
to run outside
as the walls around you shake,
but the immediate area around a building
is the most dangerous since windows,
facades and architectural details
are typically the first
to come crumbling down
during a quake.
As a rule of thumb,
stay inside if you are inside.
If you're already outside, stay there.
Yes, we often tell you to ask for help
when you are in a survival situation.
However, in this scenario
screaming for help could lead to you
inhaling large amounts of dust
and particles.
This is not what you want to have
clogging your lungs.
A better way to grab attention
is to bang on a wall or a pipe.
Hopefully, with these survival don’ts
in your pocket,
you have managed to make it through
the earthquake in one piece.
Unfortunately, as you scan the horizon,
you see a tsunami headed your way.
And contrary to popular belief,
you won't be able to outrun it.
Find out more on How to Survive.