by Chris Ryan
‘Can’t,’ said Hex swiftly. He nodded at the ruined museum. ‘Our equipment’s gone.’
‘I bet not all of it has,’ said Paulo darkly. ‘Alex’s bergen will be all right.’
‘Yeah,’ said Li bitterly.
‘The whole place could fall down but that bergen will be all right,’ said Amber.
‘I got that bergen for my birthday,’ said Alex mildly.
‘Your birthday?’ repeated Li. She looked mischievously at the others. They caught her cue.
Four pairs of eyes glared at Alex. He remembered very well the last time they all looked at him like that. It was when they were throwing water on the signal fire in the jungle.
‘I think,’ said Li, ‘we’d better give Alex the bumps.’
CHRIS RYAN’S TOP SAS TIPS ON SURVIVING EARTHQUAKES
Some parts of the world are prone to earthquakes. They’re not always on a disastrous scale, but even minor tremors can cause injuries if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time – plus they’re very frightening! However, if you know what to do you can protect yourself, your family and your mates from injury.
Here are my top tips for surviving an earthquake.
1. DON’T MISS WARNING SIGNS
If you are in an area of the world where earthquakes are common, the authorities will usually have equipment set up to register when a quake is coming so that they can then warn the population. So if you’re staying in an earthquake zone, do find out how warnings are normally announced in that area. This could be on TV or radio, but there may also be websites you can keep an eye on.
When I was on an undercover mission in Tokyo, where experts are permanently on alert for a major quake, everyone knew that if they heard all the police sirens in the city sound in 45-second bursts it was time to take cover. I always kept a pair of shoes by the bed just in case.
2. KNOW THE LOCAL PLANS
Again, if you’re in a city or other built-up area, the disaster authorities will have made plans. In Tokyo, they were mega-organized – all the locals knew which parts of the transport system would still be working, which areas of the city would be evacuated and cordoned off, and which roads would be closed. Make sure you know too. You don’t want to find yourself running around like a headless chicken when everyone else is calmly walking to the subway station!
3. MAKE YOUR ENVIRONMENT SAFE
You may be injured by falling and flying objects. Hotels and other public places should have been designed and furnished with this in mind, and will have their own procedures, so read the safety drills and follow them. However, if you’re staying in someone’s house you can help them by spotting potential hazards.
• Secure tall and heavy furniture such as cabinets and bookcases to walls.
• Shut away small appliances, like toasters and kettles – or you could do what some people in Tokyo did and secure them to a shelf or worktop with Velcro.
• If possible, take down heavy-framed pictures and mirrors in case they fall on you.
• Put large and heavy objects on lower shelves and put breakable items such as bottles or glass and china in cabinets with latches – but ask permission before nailing your auntie’s furniture to the wall and hiding her ornaments in a cupboard!
• Make sure everyone knows how and when to call the police, ambulance or fire brigade and which radio station to tune into for emergency information.
• Everyone in the group also needs to know where and how to shut off electricity, gas and water in case they are damaged during the quake. The local telephone book may carry instructions on where to find main switches and valves. Do you know where your water stopcock at home is? If not, ask your parent or guardian to show you, for this is something you could practise – stopcocks can be stiff and you need to know how hard to turn and when the supply really is off. Warn everyone before trying, though – you wouldn’t appreciate it if you were under the shower with a headful of shampoo and the water suddenly stopped!
4. PUT TOGETHER AN EMERGENCY SURVIVAL KIT
Water supplies and electricity may be knocked out by the quake, so make sure you can cope.
Collect and store the following:
• 3 gallons of bottled water per person
• Non-perishable food such as dried items and cans – and don’t forget a non-electric can opener!
• Make sure you’ve got at least one powerful torch with spare batteries.
• A portable radio (again, one that runs off batteries, with spares)
• Tools (particularly an adjustable spanner for turning off utilities)
• Blankets
• Sturdy shoes
• Sanitary items, like a loo roll, toothpaste and some soap
• A first aid kit is essential too – and brush up on your first aid and CPR skills. Every member of Alpha Force knows at least basic first aid and the essential life-saving skills and it is well worth learning these for yourself. Why not ask at your school or local library and find out if there are any courses in your area? It could mean the difference between life and death for someone at some point. Injuries in earthquake situations may include crush injuries (like the trapped teacher), fractures, cuts and bruises from flying glass and other debris and, of course, shock, which can kill.
• If anyone in your group, such as babies or disabled people, needs special items, make sure these are to hand – not left in the bathroom where you might not be able to reach them. The same goes for prescription medicines – like the insulin Amber needs for her diabetes.
• A portable fire escape ladder might come in very handy – check it’s working, though.
• Lastly, don’t forget cash, warm and protective clothing, rainwear and sleeping bags.
5. TAKING COVER WHEN THE QUAKE STARTS
If you’re outside, stay outside. If you’re indoors, stay there. During earthquakes, most people are injured when they try to get into or out of buildings.
If you’re outside, move away from trees, signs, buildings, bridges, underpasses and utility wires. Ideally you shouldn’t shelter in a doorway or by a wall as debris might fall on you, but if you’re in a street and can’t get to an open space it may be better than nothing. Once you’ve chosen your spot, stay there until the shaking stops. Unless you’re in immediate danger, don’t change your mind and run to a new doorway to see if it’s safer – you could get hurt on the way! Wrap your arms around your head, protecting your skull and eyes.
If you’re inside, remember the following rule:
Duck, Cover and Hold.
• DUCK under a sturdy desk or table. Remember how Li protects herself by diving under a table in the canteen area of the museum, and Ana and her friends hide in an opened safe down in the basement.
• If no desk or table is available, seek COVER against an inside wall (not an outside wall – and not an interior wall with glass) and protect your head and neck with your arms.
• HOLD onto the desk or table. If it moves, move with it. Hold the position until the ground stops shaking and it is safe to move.
Stay away from windows, bookcases, filing cabinets, tall furniture, heavy mirrors, hanging plants, and anything that could fall. Watch out for falling plaster or ceiling tiles. Also stay away from internal doorways. Although people used to be advised to shelter there, you could get your fingers crushed in the door if you’re not positioned properly.
If you’re in the kitchen, move away from the fridge, stove, and overhead cupboards.
If you’re in a crowded shop or other public place, don’t run for exits as stairways may be broken or jammed with people. Never use lifts as the power may fail. Move away from shelves or dangerous items on walls.
Find something solid to take cover under; if you’re in a stadium or cinema duck between the seats and cover your head. Wait until the shaking stops before trying to leave.
Don’t be surprised if the fire alarm or sprinklers come on. If there is an evacuation plan, follow the instructions of the person in charge.
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If you’re in a wheelchair, stay in it and move to cover. If possible, lock your wheels, and protect your head with your arms.
If you’re in a car, you might get bounced around a lot on its shock absorbers. Although this is very scary, it’s actually safe – so long as the driver has pulled over to the side of the road, and stopped well away from bridges, underpasses and utility poles. Don’t forget to turn the radio on for emergency information. You did keep a note of the station in the car as well as in the house, didn’t you?
6. PRACTISE EMERGENCY DRILLS
If you know a quake may be coming, practise going for shelter – and encourage the others in your group to do so as well. Identify safe spots and look for the danger spots too. If you’ve planned where you’re going to go and what to do, you’ll find it a lot easier when everything’s shaking and you’re scared stiff!
Think about what you would do if a quake happens when your group isn’t all together. If you know one is coming, you could set up an emergency contact number, such as a relative or friend well away from the earthquake zone. Then you all phone in from wherever you are and report that you’re safe. Check that the person you call is aware they’ve been nominated, though – while your mum would appreciate being told you’re OK, she may not realize she’s also a switchboard operator for all your mates!
7. AFTERWARDS
• Stay calm. This is really important as panic can cause further injuries, as well as upsetting other survivors. When Alex finds himself trapped under the dinosaur skeleton, he uses his head and thinks about his situation before deciding in which direction to dig to give himself the best chance of getting free. If he had just panicked and dug madly in any direction, he could have used up valuable energy to no effort.
• Check yourself for injuries and protect yourself from further harm by putting on long trousers, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and work gloves, if they are available.
• Check others for injuries and give them first aid, if necessary. Get everyone together, but do not try to move anyone who’s seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger. Remember that babies, the elderly and people with disabilities may need special help.
• Make sure there is no smell of gas. If there is, open windows and shut off the main gas valve – and don’t light any matches or candles or turn on any lights! Also check electricity supplies and water lines – you may have to shut these off too.
• Turn on your battery-powered radio and listen for important information such as road closures, damage and evacuation centres.
• Check telephone receivers are back on their cradles – they may have been knocked off and if you leave them like that it may disrupt the service.
• If water pipes are damaged, shut off the supply at the main valve. Extra emergency drinking water may be obtained from water heaters or melted ice cubes. Check to see that sewage lines are intact before using the loo!
• If you are trapped, do anything you possibly can to attract attention. Call for help or wave something eye-catching – that horrible yellow swirly scarf your gran gave you last Christmas might come in very handy! If you have a mobile and it is working, use that. Otherwise, though, stay off the phone unless you have to report an emergency. Remember that the emergency services will be working to find you if you are trapped under rubble or in a collapsed building. If you are in a group, remind others of this too. It’s amazing how quickly morale can lift in a group if at least one person is confident of rescue.
8. OUTSIDE
If you were outside when the quake struck, whether in a car or on foot, stay away from bridges – they might be damaged. Be careful when going near buildings, and try not to go into any that are damaged.
9. HELPING OTHERS
If you’ve got out safely, you might be able to lend a hand to others. In really serious quakes many of the rescuers have been members of the public who’ve joined in with the digging. But try and stay close to other people, and don’t be a hero – never put yourself in danger.
And remember – saving lives is important, but never go back into an unstable building simply to collect any lost belongings, or valuables. After the earthquake in the museum, Alpha Force are immediately focused on survivors and rescuing victims – not finding the golden mask, even though it is extremely valuable.
10. GETTING BACK TO NORMAL
If you’re staying in someone’s house, they might need your help to get ship-shape again.
Check all bottles such as medicines, bleaches or flammable liquids – they might have spilled. When you open cupboard doors, do so carefully – items will have shifted. You might come through the quake unscathed and then be buried under an avalanche of china or baked bean cans!
Inspect the entire house for gas leaks, damage to the electrical system, and sewerage and water line damage. If damage of this kind goes unnoticed it could cause a fire.
Be prepared for aftershocks! Although most of these are smaller than the main tremor, some may be strong enough to cause extra damage or bring weakened structures down. Aftershocks can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.
Also be prepared to comfort others in your group. Earthquakes are very upsetting and although people may look fine initially, especially while they have a mess to sort out, they may suddenly get shaky or upset. Younger children especially may need to talk about their feelings. You can help reassure them.
Big quakes are rare and happily the big one didn’t hit Tokyo when I was there. But I felt a lot better for knowing exactly what I’d do if it did.
BE SAFE!
Random House Children’s Books and Chris Ryan would like to make it clear that these tips are for use in a serious situation only, where your life may be at risk. We cannot accept any liability for inappropriate usage in normal conditions.
Table of Contents
Cover
Copyright
Meet the team:
About the Author
Also available in the Alpha Force series:
Alpha Force: Fault Line
1. Fast Rope
2. The Mission
3. Jungle Night
4. Destruction
5. Snake
6. Tomb
7. Robber
8. Landing Zone
9. Chainsaw Hell
10. Mr Unpopular
11. Belize City
12. Celebrities
13. Bump in the Night
14. Silence
15. Lone Rescuer
16. The Pit
17. Starting Again
18. Trapped
19. Looters
20. Evacuation
21. Dying Wish
22. The Ring
23. Underworld
24. Hex
25. Morning
Chris Ryan’s Top SAS Tips on Surviving Earthquakes
