18 February 2008
BEIRUT: Following last week's series of earthquakes, the Lebanese Interior Ministry released on Saturday a statement providing some safety instructions in case of possible recurrances of similar tremors:
I. Steps to take if at home:
l It is safer to stay inside than to get out or try to hide in another place refuge.
l One should hide under a table; stay in a doorway or in a corner of a room.
l One should stay away from windows, balconies and hung objects like chandeliers.
l If possible, all electrical devices should be turned off.
l Heads should be protected with a pillow or similar object.
II. Steps to take if outside:
l One should stay away from buildings and high walls; shouldn't hide under trees, electrical wires or metallic billboards; avoid narrow streets, holes and rivers or sea shores.
l When in a narrow street surrounded by buildings, one should quickly try to get out.
III. Steps to take if in public places:
l To avoid large crowds, one should try to find the emergency exit instead of rushing to the normal building exits.
l One should stay away from objects that might fall.
l One should try to calm down others and give them any necessary instructions.
l If knowledgeable about first aid techniques, one should try to organize an evacuation.
l One should conform to any instructions given by the competent authorities or rescue teams.
IV. Steps to take if in a car:
l One should avoid driving erratically in order to keep control of the vehicle.
l One should avoid hitting cars or pedestrians.
l One should park one's car on the right side of the road far from buildings, walls or electrical wires in order to free the road for ambulances.
l One should not attempt to cross bridges.
V. Steps to take if at school:
l One should keep calm and avoid agitation.
l One should protect oneself by hiding under a table or under doorways.
VI. Steps to take if in an elevator:
l One should press on the stop button and head to a safe place as fast as possible by stairs.
Following the earthquake:
I. Steps to take if injured:
l One should remain calm and avoid panic.
l One should try to draw someone's attention to oneself by any means.
II. Steps to take if uninjured:
l One should ensure all family members' security.
l One should aid the injured.
l In case of fire, one should try to put it out.
l One should switch off all electrical objects.
l One should evacuate the seriously injured.
l One shouldn't touch exposed wires.
l One should avoid using one's cellular phone unless there's an emergency, especially in case of gas leak.
l One should listen to the radio and abide by the competent authorities' instructions.
l One should beware of falling objects when opening doors or cupboards.
l One should inspect one's residence for possible damage.
l One should be prepared for possible aftershocks and go outside before they occur.
Moreover, families should prepare and practice an emergency plan that consists of:
l Define each room's safe spots (doorways, internal walls, under tables).
l Define dangerous areas that should be avoided (windows, balconies, hung objects, mirrors and high furniture).
l Train family members on first aid and fire extinguishers.
l Write down emergency numbers (civil defense, fire department, Red Cross, electricity, water, police and hospitals).
l Keep within access prepared boxes and emergency equipment such as: flashlights, batteries, a mobile radio, a first aid kit to which must be added any specific medicine needed by family members, canned food and water, light rescuing equipment; a fire extinguisher, necessary documents and money.
An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the open-ended Richter scale rocked Lebanon on Friday, injuring 10 people and sending panicked residents out into the streets in the south of the country.
The quake, which was also felt across the border in Israel, the Occupied West Bank and Gaza, caused damage in a number of villages in southern Lebanon while buildings shook in Beirut.
Lebanon's National Center for Scientific Research said the quake had an intensity of 5.0 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter located 17 kilometers northeast of Tyre.
Another tremor measuring about 4.0 on the Richter scale struck Lebanon on February 12. Its epicenter was six kilometers east of Tyre.
The last earthquake of such magnitude to shake the country took place in 2001 with its epicenter in the Bekaa Valley region of eastern Lebanon.
Premier Fouad Siniora on Friday called for an urgent meeting for the National Emergencies Committee to discuss the repercussions of the earthquake and precautions to be taken in case of a similar tremor. - The Daily Star
Copyright The Daily Star 2008.
