# What Should I Do During an Earthquake "Drop, Cover, and Hold On!" and whatever you do, DO NOT PANIC! ## See also - [[How to Prepare for an Earthquake]] - [[What Should I Do After an Earthquake]] ## If You Are Indoors - If you're in bed the best thing to do is stay in bed, lie face-down, and cover your head with a pillow - Immediately drop onto your hands and knees to prevent being knocked down - Cover your head and neck with your hands and get into a fetus position which will protect your vital organs from falling objects, which is the cause of most earthquake injuries. See [[Causes of Most Earthquake Injuries]]. - If you can move safely, get under a desk or a table and hang on to it. The main purpose of this advice is to protect you from falling debris, but it should protect you even in the case of building collapse, as numerous pictures from around the world have shown tables and desks holding up collapsed floors. - Alternatively move into a hallway or against an inside wall - Keep your mouth and eyes closed to protect them against dust and debris - Watch out for things that might fall on you (paintings, chandeliers, bookshelves, etc.) - Stay clear of windows as they may break - Stay clear of any heavy furniture or appliances which, if they move, may crush you or trap you - DO NOT run downstairs or rush outside before the shaking stops, due to an increased chance of injury (falling), and getting hit by falling debris such as from windows and facades. - Contrary to common belief, in modern buildings doorways DO NOT provide any additional protection from building collapse, and will not protect you against falling objects so avoid them. ## If You Are Outside - Drop onto your hands and knees to prevent being knocked down and move to an open space away from buildings, bridges, trees, light posts, signs, power lines, chimneys and anything else that might fall on you - If you're driving, carefully stop, preferably away from traffic, but stay in the car - Watch our for landslides, breaks in the pavement and road bumps - If you're close to the shore seek higher ground to make sure you're safe in case of a tsunami ## Sources - United States Geological Survey. [What should I do during an earthquake?](https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-should-i-do-during-earthquake). - Southern California Earthquake Center. [Earthquake Safety Video Series](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs1gMujRSBY2t7JB4VS-AymFwN-6Lvg20). - Southern California Earthquake Center. [Drop, Cover, and Hold On!](https://www.shakeout.org/dropcoverholdon/) - Southern California Earthquake Center. [How To Protect Yourself During An Earthquake](https://www.earthquakecountry.org/dropcoverholdon/). - Southern California Earthquake Center. [Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety](https://www.earthquakecountry.org/sevensteps/).