In an earthquake - drop, cover, hold

Friday, 4 March 2011

Conflicting information about what to do in an earthquake could result in people being injured or killed, civil defence officials say.

Greater Wellington regional council said yesterday that people should ignore emails circulating about a debunked method of surviving earthquakes, called the 'triangle of life'.

The theory suggests that instead of adopting a 'drop, cover, hold' position under furniture or in doorways, people should lie next to a large object so they remain safe in the triangle-shaped space created when ceiling beams fall across the object.

However, the theory had been discredited in New Zealand and overseas by earthquake recovery experts, civil defence emergency management chairwoman Jenny Rowan said.

'Drop, cover, hold will protect people in most earthquake scenarios. In a severe earthquake, it is absolutely vital that people respond immediately.

'Confusion about what to do can result in people getting seriously injured or killed.'

Civil Defence public information manager Brett Sangster said emails promoting the 'triangle of life' had begun circulating within days of last week's quake, just as they did after the September 4 quake.

Although there were stories from Christchurch about people attributing their survival to not being under their desks, international experience still showed 'drop, cover, hold' to be the safest thing to do.

'With the Pyne Gould building, there were people who were recovered from that building who'd done the drop, cover, hold thing under their desks and were still OK.

'Drop, cover, hold is a technique that's been developed by experts in earthquake recovery internationally.'

The triangle of life relied on too many variables, including the object not changing position and beams falling in the right place to create a space.

People should identify a place or object to shelter under within a few metres of them at home and at work, Mr Sangster said.