SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR EARTHQUAKE SURVIVAL
When the ground is rumbling every second counts. There is no time to panic. Refusing to panic can save your life. If you are close enough to feel the tremor, you are close enough to the quake (or explosion) for buildings in your area to be damaged. It is possible that the following suggestions may help you survive.
BASIC SAFETY
Within reach of your bed and your work station, keep sturdy shoes and a working flashlight. A set of clothes you can quickly put on should be at your bedside. If the shaking starts while you are in bed, remain there until it stops. When the tremor ends, quickly put on clothing and shoes. Bare feet are no match for broken glass, and light shoes won’t last long in rough terrain.
DUCK, COVER & HOLD
IF YOU ARE LOCATED INDOORS kneel next to an interior, weight-bearing wall. Get beneath something solid such as a strong table. Use your hands to protect your neck and head. Take a firm hold of the object you are beneath to keep yourself steady.
IF YOU ARE LOCATED IN A HIGH-RISE get beneath something sturdy. Use your arms and hands to shield your head and neck. Grasp the object shielding you to steady yourself. Use the stairs when you exit. Elevators should NEVER be used during a fire or earthquake.
WHEN OUTSIDE
Quickly note the location of large trees and power lines. These could be a threat to your safety if they fell. Avoid overhead hazards such as these. Try to position yourself in an open space in order to avoid falling objects. Move away from high buildings. Two to thirteen feet of broken glass can crash onto streets beneath high-rise buildings.
IF YOU ARE IN AN AUTOMOBILE
Don’t exit the vehicle. Locate yourself beyond the reach of overhead threats. Don’t park under any extensions. Remain in your car even if it is beneath a bridge during an earthquake. The vehicle’s tires act as insulation and will cushion the blow of any heavy debris that lands on your car. On an open road, you will want to pull over to the shoulder without blocking the thoroughfare. Wait for the quaking to end. Use your radio to track reports and get further instructions.
IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH
Realize that aftershocks are likely: prepare to DUCK-COVER-HOLD – again! Examine yourself for injuries. Secure your flashlight. In the event of gas leaks, a flashlight will be MUCH safer to use than a candle. If you are at home, locate everyone in your household. Move everyone to a safe place that you’ve agreed upon beforehand. Once you’ve accounted for everyone, walk around the perimeter of the house, checking for structural damage such as large cracks or obvious leaning.
Wait for instructions from authorities before attempting to shut off natural gas. Tune in by radio to the emergency broadcast network for information on relief efforts.
Locate any pets you own. Soothe and reassure them. To protect them from running away, restrain them or place them on a leash until it is certain they are no longer afraid. This will also help prevent bites that occur due to anxiety.
TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
Respect the role that instincts play in survival. Pay attention to what you see small animals and insects doing. In 2008 there was a mass migration of frogs crossing roads in China that began on a Monday (May 5th). A few days later (May 12th) a 7.8 magnitude quake killed nearly 10,000 people in central China.
TAKE HEED
These measures are offered as guidelines. Considering your course of action ahead of time will increase your likelihood of survival if you find yourself in an earthquake. This advice is not meant to take the place of professional emergency aid. All liability is assumed by the person that utilizes these measures.
HERBS USED FOR INCENSE
Historically, sick rooms were once cleansed using the smoke from burning sage and rosemary. A fragrant wood, Cedar is known to have expectorant, antifungal, antiviral and lymphatic cleansing properties. The needles from Pine, Spruce and Fir trees contain the main ingredient in Tamiflu (a medicine used to treat the bird flu) called shikimic acid. Respiratory ailments have been helped with the application of incense made with Frankincense. Other similarly beneficial herbs are Eucalyptus leaves and Mullein.
The slow burning of plant materials release essential oils into the smoke which – when inhaled – are then carried into the lungs. Bronchial inflammation can be relieved by beneficial herbal properties that are directly applied to the tissue using this method.
I know of one instance of a woman that was left struggling for air, choking and vomiting from a strong cytokine response during the flu. The man of the house closed the damper on the wood stove and placed cedar in the fire box, which produced a cleansing smoke. The cytokine storm stopped right away. Twenty minutes later, she had no more mucus and was relieved of her flu symptoms. Since that time, they have used this same remedy on other family members to good effect (of course, they air the house out afterwards).
Native Americans often used the smoke of Cedar to cleanse their homes. Smoke can be used in rustic conditions as a cleanser to rid a person, bedding, clothing or shelter of vermin, viruses and harmful bacteria. The last part of Leviticus 14 records that priests were instructed to cleanse a house of the plague using Cedar.
HOW TO USE HERBS FOR INCENSE
Carefully place a hot ember or coal from a hardwood fire (use tongs) onto a heat resistant surface. Assemble the herbs around and onto the ember and watch for smoke. Allow the smoke to waft over you and inhale. Be careful that the plant material does not burst into flames but only smokes. The smoldering is accomplished by using hot coals rather than an open fire; you can also tie your herbs or wood into tight bundles.
Herbs tightly bundled for incense are called smudge sticks. In some cases, leaves and stems can be tightly braided. If you only have dry leaves, these can be tightly wrapped in unbleached paper and tied with cotton thread. To use smudge sticks, light one of the ends. Extinguish the flame by gently blowing on it, leaving the smudge stick to smoking. These smudge sticks make it easier to direct the smoke and they tend to smoke longer than loose plant material.
WARNING
Never inhale or come near the smoke of a plant to which you are allergic. The purpose of this article is for information only. Persons utilizing these methods assume all liability and are encouraged to use safety guidelines. This article is not a substitute for the care of a trained health professional.
