Danger

Your first priority when the shaking has stopped, is to get clear of any immediate dangers.  These may not be apparent immediately, so you should take a minute to assess your specific circumstances.

If you are inside, make sure it is safe to move outside before you do.  The danger from falling debris from buildings is one that most people don’t think of until it’s too late.  Obviously, if there is imminent danger inside the building (falling debris, glass exploding, fire etc.) then you should move out as soon as you can.

First Aid

Most homes have at least a basic first aid kit, but if yours hasn’t, you should consider investing in one, or improvising what you have around you.

A first aid kit isn’t much use unless you know what to do with it.  Clearly, the most sensible thing to do is enrol on a first aid course.  If this isn’t possible, get to the library and check out some first aid manuals, or use the internet (trusted sources only) to get yourself and your family familiar with what to do in an emergency. St John’s have a great website offering everything you need to know about first aid, click here.  There’s also a great first aid app available to download from the St John website, well worth having.

Shelter

It’s important to protect yourself from the elements.  In winter this means protection from cold, wind, rain etc. but in summer it’s just as important to protect yourself from the Sun, you will need to prevent water loss in whatever way you can, and guard against sunstroke and overheating.

As with all our advice, you really need to make the best use of what you find around you.  If you have a tent, use it.  If not, find some other way to protect yourself, a tarpaulin, or sheets/towels/duvets etc.

Shelter really is about using what you have in the most effective way you can.  Remember it needs to keep in the warmth (or keep it out in summer), and be waterproof if possible (tarps are great for this, you can secure them over duvet inners or blankets to keep the rain off).

Heat

Having some form of heat is vital for warmth and useful for cooking, purifying water, morale and personal hygiene.

Again, use what you have.  Have a barbeque? make sure you have gas and something to light it with.  If you don’t have anything like that, make sure you know how to construct, light and maintain a fire.