Earthquake Drill | Drop! Cover! Hold On!

I believe that we all have experienced earthquake at least once in our life. I was still studying then when I felt my school building shaking. Teachers and students were running around in every direction. I remembered that I gathered my stuff and ran down the stairs as fast as I could to the nearest open ground. It was truly a terrifying experience!

Shake Drill | Drop! Cover! Hold On!

Earthquake is the perceptible shaking of the surface of the Earth, resulting from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. - Wikipedia

Fast-forward to today, parents are comforted by the fact that the local government agency, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and schools are annually conducting Earthquake Evacuation Drills to prepare kids as young as 2 years old. 

What to do BEFORE an Earthquake

  

At the beginning of the school year, parents prepared Go/Grab bags* labeled with their child's name. These bags are placed inside the classrooms in cases of emergency.

*Go/Grab bags include (but not limited to) the following items:

1. First Aid Kit
2. Mineral Water/Food
3. Flashlight
4. Whistle
5. Identification Card with Parent's Contact Information

The key to effective disaster prevention is planning. You must learn the earthquake evacuation plan at your school.

What to do DURING an Earthquake

The last thing you want to do during an emergency disaster like an earthquake is to panic. You must stay calm at all times and have presence of mind. If you are inside the classroom, stay there and do the "Duck, Cover, and Hold" position. 

Duck under the table and hold on to it. If you can't go under a table, you can protect your head with your arms. Remember to stay away from glass windows, shelves and cabinets as these are the unsafe zones.

What to do After an Earthquake

Once the shaking stops, be prepared for evacuation. Take the safest and fastest way out of the building. Do not forget to bring your Go/Grab bag with you. During assembly, check yourself and others for injuries. Make a headcount.