What Are Some Common Disaster Avoidance Guidelines

 

      Today, May 12th, is my country's 18th National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Day. This year's theme is "Everyone Talks About Safety, Everyone Knows How to Respond to Emergencies-Improving Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, and Relief Capabilities." This is not only a remembrance of the past but also a reminder: accidents never give warning. Are we truly prepared for sudden natural disasters?

Many people feel that disasters are far removed from their lives, but in reality, disaster prevention and mitigation are in the details of our daily lives. Mastering some basic safety skills in normal times can buy precious opportunities for yourself and your family in critical moments. This is what we often refer to as "prevention first, combined with rescue."

Today, we have compiled a practical guide to avoiding common disasters. There are no complicated theories, only practical methods that can be used in emergencies.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Day Concept Image

Fire: Crouch Low and Evacuate Decisively
Crouch low and evacuate decisively
If you discover a fire, remain calm when escaping. If the doorknob is hot or the outside is filled with thick smoke, do not blindly open the door and rush out. Instead, use a wet towel or clothing to block the door gaps and retreat to a room with windows to call for help. If the stairwell is still passable, crouch low and move forward, covering your mouth and nose with a wet towel to avoid toxic fumes, and quickly descend the stairs along the safety passage. Remember, under no circumstances should you be greedy for belongings, and never use the elevator.

Fire Escape Diagram

Heavy Rain and Flooding: Avoid Low-lying Areas and Stay Away from Electrical Risk
Avoid low-lying areas and stay away from electrical risk
Summer is approaching, and heavy rainfall will become more frequent. If you encounter severe flooding outdoors, try to avoid it and do not risk wading through the water, as you have no idea if there are open manhole covers underwater. Also, stay away from lampposts, utility poles, and street-side electrical boxes to prevent electric shock. If you are indoors and find that water is about to flood your house, quickly cut off the main power supply and move to the roof or higher ground to await rescue.

Daily Preparation: Keep a Home Emergency Kit

In addition to mastering these skills, it's best to keep an emergency kit at home, in a place where everyone can easily reach it. The items may be few, but they are essential for survival when water and power are cut off and you are waiting for rescue.

Several bottles of drinking water

High-calorie foods with a long shelf life (such as compressed biscuits, chocolate)

Flashlight

Whistle

Band-Aids

Some basic medicines

Home Emergency Kit Supplies List
Image: Demolition and Rescue Equipment | Clearing a Lifeline

At a collapse site, layers of steel bars, concrete, and walls create obstacles; to rescue people, a path must first be cleared. Firefighters are equipped with hydraulic demolition tools, reciprocating saws, rock drills, and plasma cutters to easily cut rebar, break bricks and stones, and cut metal components, quickly clearing obstacles and creating safe rescue routes.

Stabilizing Equipment | Preventing Secondary Collapses