It’s also important to stay put, says White. Wherever you are when an earthquake hits, stay in the immediate vicinity and seek cover underneath the nearest heavy object. “The only time to move is if you’re standing immediately outside a building,” says White. Falling eaves, shutters, bricks, and other debris pose serious danger, so it’s best to get inside, where you can Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
Go with the Pros
Some of Copp’s advice has merit—crouch in the fetal position, and don’t go onto staircases. However, the rest of his theory assumes not only that all buildings collapse in all earthquakes, but also that all buildings are built the same everywhere. At best, the Triangle of Life theory is unwieldy because most people are not capable of making split-second geometric calculations or anticipating the location and size of life-sustaining voids. At worst, by encouraging people to crouch in the open, it leaves people vulnerable to injuries from falling objects, shifting furniture, and other debris. Ultimately, if you receive an email about the Triangle of Life, you should take it about as seriously as you take any unsolicited and unsubstantiated email forward. The Red Cross makes no representations about this method’s effectiveness in other countries, but in America, Drop, Cover, and Hold On is the gold standard, and it’s endorsed by FEMA and the United States Geological Survey.
The American Red Cross offers recommendations for the United States only and makes no attempt to advise those in other countries. However, Drop, Cover, and Hold On has been proven to save lives in disasters, and because of people’s using this survival method, earthquakes in the United States are far less deadly than those in other countries. The death toll estimates from the recent Haitian quake are close to two hundred thousand, while the Loma Prieta quake killed sixty-three people.
