It is very likely that there will be aftershocks after an earthquake, and the location of the aftershocks may not be close to the epicenter. Therefore, learning self-rescue is one of the most important measures after an earthquake.When an earthquake occurs, it is crucial to have a clear mind and a calm attitude. Only with calmness can we possibly use the earthquake knowledge learned in daily life to judge the size and distance of the earthquake. Near earthquakes often start with vertical shaking, followed by horizontal swaying. Distant earthquakes, on the other hand, have less vertical shaking and are mainly characterized by horizontal swaying, with crisp sounds and minor tremors. Generally speaking, small earthquakes and distant earthquakes do not require evacuation.The latest self-rescue advice: Do not hide under tablesThe first rule in Japan's "Earthquake Manual" clearly states "to hide under sturdy furniture." Therefore, Japanese teachers firmly believe that the best way is to "hide under the table." This idea is based on the premise that earthquakes in Japan usually last only tens of seconds and ceilings do not fall.When the ceiling collapses due to a strong earthquake, it can destroy furniture such as tables and beds. If someone hides inside, the consequences can be unimaginable. However, if a person crouches beside the furniture with a low posture, the furniture can absorb the force of collapsing objects, providing survival space for the person nearby.When driving and encountering an earthquake, quickly leave the car. Many people who died in parking lots during earthquakes were crushed to death inside their vehicles, while those between two cars remained unharmed. When a strong earthquake occurs and you are in a parking lot, do not stay in the car to avoid being crushed by falling ceilings. Instead, lie down beside the car. The falling ceiling will press on the car rather than directly hit the person, potentially creating a "survival space" and increasing the chances of survival.School earthquake protection1. In open areas or outdoors, squat in place without moving, protect your head with both hands, and avoid tall buildings or dangerous objects.2. Do not return to the classroom.3. Evacuate in an organized manner after the earthquake.4. Absolutely do not jump from the building! Do not stand near windows! Do not go onto balconies!5. Classes should be held outdoors when necessary.Home earthquake protection1. The warning time for an earthquake is short, making indoor earthquake protection more practical. After a building collapses, the triangular spaces formed are often relatively safe places where people can survive, known as earthquake refuge spaces. These mainly refer to spaces formed by large collapsed structures and supporting objects.2. Indoor areas prone to forming triangular spaces include:Kang (a traditional Chinese bed) edges, near sturdy furniture;Inner walls, corners;Kitchens, toilets, storage rooms with smaller spans.Public place earthquake protectionFollow the instructions of on-site staff, remain calm, do not rush to exits, avoid crowds, and stay away from high-traffic areas to avoid being pushed against walls or fences.In theaters, stadiums, etc.:Avoid hanging objects like chandeliers and fans;Protect your head with a schoolbag;After the earthquake passes, follow the staff's instructions and evacuate in an organized manner.In malls, bookstores, exhibition halls, subway stations, etc.:Choose sturdy counters, goods (like low furniture), or pillars, and crouch nearby with your hands or other items protecting your head;Avoid glass doors and windows, glass display cases, or counters;Avoid tall, unstable shelves storing heavy or fragile items;Avoid billboards, lights, and other tall or suspended objects.In moving electric (or gas) vehicles:Hold tightly onto the handrails to avoid falling or injury; lower your center of gravity and hide near seats.Get out of the vehicle after the earthquake has passed.Outdoor earthquake protectionSelect open areas locally for earthquake protection:Crouch or lie down to avoid falling;Do not run around and avoid crowded areas;Do not return indoors arbitrarily.Avoid tall buildings or structures:Buildings, especially those with glass facades;Overpasses, flyovers;Tall chimneys, water towers.Avoid dangerous objects, tall or suspended items:Transformers, utility poles, streetlights;Billboards, cranes.Avoid other hazardous areas:Narrow streets;Dilapidated houses, walls;Parapet walls, tall doorways, awnings;Brick and wood material piles.Factory worker earthquake protectionFactory workers can take refuge under vehicles, machines, and larger equipment. They should not panic and run around. Workers in special positions should first close valves for flammable, explosive, and toxic gases, promptly reduce the temperature and pressure in high-temperature and high-pressure pipelines, and shut down operating equipment. Most personnel can evacuate the work site. Under safe protection, a few personnel should remain on-site to monitor potential dangers, handle unexpected events, and prevent secondary disasters.Emergency earthquake protection for vehicles in motion(1) Drivers should slow down quickly and gradually brake;(2) Passengers (especially on trains) should hold tightly onto handles, columns, or seats to prevent falling or injury. People facing the direction of travel should rest their arms on the cushion of the front seat to protect their faces, lean toward the aisle, and cover their heads with both hands. Those facing the opposite direction should cover their heads with both hands, raise their knees to protect their abdomen, tighten their bodies, and adopt a defensive posture.Emergency earthquake protection for people inside buildingsOnce an earthquake occurs, it is crucial to maintain a clear and calm mind, promptly identify the vibration conditions, and absolutely avoid jumping from buildings in a panic. This point is extremely important. Secondly, one can take refuge under sturdy furniture or in corners, or temporarily move to kitchens or bathrooms with more load-bearing walls and smaller spans. These places have stronger connections and better support systems, making them more resistant to earthquakes. In summary, according to the layout of the building and the indoor situation, one should assess the situation and find safe spaces and passages to minimize casualties.Emergency earthquake protection in storesWhen encountering an earthquake in a department store, stay calm. Due to the panic among people, goods may fall and block escape routes. At this time, seek shelter near large columns or large goods (avoiding display cabinets) or move towards unobstructed passages, then squat down and wait for the earthquake to subside. If on an upper floor, generally it is advisable to transfer to the ground floor. However, staircases are often weak points in earthquake-resistant structures, so choose the right moment to escape. Store clerks should organize the crowd to take refuge nearby and evacuate safely after the earthquake.Three strategies for earthquake protection in high-rise buildingsStrategy One: Stay calm during the earthquake and move outdoors afterward. This is the international general guideline for earthquake protection. Many real-life examples show that entering or leaving buildings during an earthquake increases the likelihood of being injured or killed by falling debris. Therefore, experts advise that if indoor earthquake protection conditions are good, one should prioritize staying indoors. If the building has poor seismic resistance, try to get outside as soon as possible.According to national standards, residential buildings in Beijing should withstand earthquakes of intensity 8. During an earthquake, don't panic initially. Maintain a wide field of vision and mobility to make decisions accordingly. Remember not to linger in bed, not to run to the balcony, not to gather in crowded corridors, not to jump from buildings, and not to use elevators. If trapped in an elevator, leave as soon as possible. If the doors cannot be opened, crouch down and protect your head. Additionally, immediately extinguish fires and cut off electricity to prevent burns and fires.Strategy Two: The choice of refuge position is critical. Based on the building layout and indoor conditions, assess the situation and find safe spaces to take refuge. Look for places that can form triangular spaces. Hiding near radiators is relatively safe because they have a large load-bearing capacity, metal piping networks with elasticity that are difficult to tear apart, and even during intense earthquake shaking, they are unlikely to be thrown out. Radiators also have good ventilation, reducing the risk of suffocation. The water stored within the pipes can extend survival time. More importantly, trapped individuals can use knocking on radiator pipes to signal for help externally. Since radiators are typically located near exterior walls, they facilitate quicker rescue efforts.Special attention must be paid when hiding in small spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. Try to stay away from stoves, gas pipes, and fragile items like bowls and plates. If the kitchen or bathroom is in a corner of the building with thin partition walls, it should not be chosen as the optimal earthquake refuge area. Additionally, avoid hiding inside cabinets or boxes because once inside, mobility is lost, vision is obstructed, and limbs are bound, missing opportunities for escape and hindering rescue efforts. Lying down is also not recommended because the body occupies more space, increasing the chance of being hit by five times compared to standing, and it is harder to maneuver.Strategy Three: Stay close to water sources, away from fire hazards, and prefer external locations over internal ones. This is an essential principle to ensure timely assistance from others in urban earthquake disasters. Avoid getting close to stoves, gas pipes, and household appliances. Choose locations on the outer sides of buildings rather than inner sides. Do not hide under windows. Preferably stay close to water sources. Once trapped, try to establish contact with the outside world. Besides using mobile phones, you can knock on pipes and radiators or turn on flashlights.Family earthquake protection secrets1. Seize the opportunity for emergency protection. If the shaking feels light, it indicates the epicenter is far away, and hiding under sturdy furniture is sufficient. Earthquakes usually last only a few seconds to several dozen seconds, so seizing the opportunity to take refuge is crucial, and no time should be wasted.2. Choose appropriate refuge spaces. Safer indoor spaces include load-bearing wall roots, corners, and areas with water pipes and heating pipes. The least favorable places are unsupported beds, areas below ceilings or hanging lights, unsupported floors, and near glass (including mirrors) and large windows.3. Protect yourself. First, stay calm, choose a good hiding spot, crouch or sit down with your face down, and rest your forehead on your arms. Alternatively, grab sturdy objects like table legs nearby to avoid falling or moving uncontrollably and causing injuries. Protect your head and neck by lowering your head and covering it with your hands or back of your neck. Protect your eyes by lowering your head and closing your eyes to prevent foreign object injuries. Protect your mouth and nose if possible by using a wet towel to cover them to prevent dust and toxic gases.Self-rescue after an earthquakeIf buried under rubble during an earthquake, surrounded by darkness with only a tiny space, do not panic. Stay calm, have faith that help will come, and do everything possible to protect yourself.After an earthquake, multiple aftershocks may occur, worsening the situation. To avoid new injuries, try to improve your environment. At this time, if an emergency kit is nearby, it will greatly assist in your rescue efforts.In such an unfavorable environment, first protect your breathing by moving debris from your head and chest. If you smell gas or toxic fumes, cover your mouth and nose with wet clothing. Avoid unstable debris and other objects prone to collapse. Expand and stabilize your survival space by using bricks or sticks to prop up broken walls, preventing further deterioration caused by aftershocks.Try to free yourself from danger. If no escape route is found, conserve energy as much as possible. Use rocks to tap on objects that make noise, signaling for help externally. Do not cry, become anxious, or act blindly, which would consume a lot of energy and strength. Try to control your emotions or rest with your eyes closed, waiting for rescuers. If injured, try to bandage the wound to avoid excessive bleeding.Maintain life. If trapped under rubble for a long time and rescuers have not arrived or you hear no rescue signals, try to sustain your life. Conserve water and food in the earthquake preparedness kit. Try to find food and drinking water, and if necessary, your urine can serve as a means of hydration.Mutual rescue after an earthquakeAfter an earthquake, external rescue teams may not immediately reach the disaster site. In such circumstances, to save more people trapped under rubble and give them precious lives, active participation in mutual rescue by affected communities is the most timely and effective method, embodying the noble virtue of "saving lives in peril."Timely rescue improves the chances of survival. According to relevant data, the survival rate of those rescued within 20 minutes after an earthquake exceeds 98%, but it drops to 63% after one hour. Among those who couldn't be rescued within two hours, asphyxiation accounted for 58% of deaths. These people didn't die from being crushed by collapsing buildings during the earthquake but from asphyxiation. Timely assistance could have saved their lives. In the Tangshan earthquake, hundreds of thousands of people were buried under rubble, and through self-rescue and mutual rescue, most survivors regained their lives. The mutual rescue actions involving affected communities played an irreplaceable role throughout the earthquake relief efforts.Rescue methodsBased on the post-earthquake environment and actual conditions, implement effective rescue methods to safely extract trapped individuals from the rubble.Through understanding and searching, determine if there are people buried under the rubble and assess their burial positions. Communicate rescue signals by shouting or tapping on the rubble.During the rescue process, pay particular attention to the safety of the buried individuals. Ensure that tools used (such as iron bars, shovels, or sticks) do not injure the trapped people. Avoid destroying the surrounding support structure, which could cause further collapses endangering the trapped individuals. Establish communication with the enclosed space occupied by the trapped individuals to allow fresh air to flow in. If dust becomes too thick, spray water to reduce it and prevent asphyxiation. If rescue takes longer, consider delivering water, food, or medicine to sustain life.Before taking action, plan carefully where to dig and what tools to use.In the past, blind actions by rescuers have led to the collapse of roof sections above trapped individuals, resulting in fatalities. Scientific analysis and action are crucial for successful rescues. Blind actions can cause additional harm to the trapped individuals.Rescue and careFirst, expose the head of the trapped individual from the rubble and clear the dust from their mouth and nose to ensure smooth breathing. For seriously injured individuals unable to leave the rubble on their own, carefully remove debris around them before lifting them out. Avoid forcibly dragging them.For severely dehydrated, injured, or asphyxiated individuals trapped for a long time, cover their eyes with dark cloth to avoid bright light. Treat injuries with bandages or transport them to medical facilities for treatment.Key points for earthquake protectionWhether to run or hide during an earthquake, most Chinese experts believe: hiding nearby during the quake and evacuating quickly to a safe place afterward is a better emergency response. Choose sturdy objects that can shield the body, places that easily form triangular spaces, small spaces with supports, or open and safe outdoor areas for protection.The body should assume the following posture:Crouch down and wait, sitting or squatting, curling the body as much as possible to lower the center of gravity.Grab sturdy objects like table legs.Protect the neck, eyes, and cover the mouth and nose.Avoid crowds, don't push or shove, and don't light fires indiscriminately, as flammable and explosive gases may be present in the air.How to self-rescue after a strong earthquake1. After an earthquake, actively participate in rescue efforts. Place your ear against a wall to listen for survivors' voices.2. Expose the victim's head first to ensure unobstructed breathing. If asphyxiation occurs, perform artificial respiration immediately.