Earthquakes can start suddenly, and the first few seconds matter because shaking can knock people down and send objects falling. Drop, Cover, Hold On is a simple memory aid for the safest immediate actions to take when the ground begins to shake. The goal is to reduce injury from falls, flying glass, falling furniture, and ceiling debris.
Practicing the steps before an earthquake makes it easier to act quickly instead of freezing or running.
Understanding Health: What to do during an earthquake (Drop, Cover, Hold On)
During an earthquake, the ground moves sideways, up, and down in uneven pulses. Your body and loose objects do not all move at the same time. This is why bookcases tip, glass breaks, and heavy items slide from shelves.
A strong table can create a small protected space by carrying part of the load if light ceiling material falls. Choose shelter that has solid legs and a sturdy top.
Avoid furniture with glass tops, weak folding legs, or heavy objects stored directly above it. Keep your face turned away from windows, mirrors, and tall shelves, since broken glass and falling items can travel farther than expected.
The safest place depends on where you are when movement begins. In a classroom, stay close to the desk rather than trying to reach a doorway or another room. Doorways are not automatically safe in modern buildings, and they rarely protect against falling objects.
If you are in bed, staying there and using a pillow to shield your head may be safer than crossing a dark room with broken glass on the floor. A wheelchair user should lock the wheels if possible and protect the head and neck. In a car, the driver should slow down and stop in a clear place away from bridges, power lines, trees, and buildings, then remain inside until the shaking ends.
Preparation changes how well people respond under stress. Look around the rooms where you spend the most time and notice hazards at head height. Tall bookcases, televisions, mirrors, hanging frames, and heavy storage boxes need attention.
Adults can secure tall furniture to wall studs and move heavy objects onto lower shelves. Keep a pair of sturdy shoes near the bed because shattered glass is a common danger after shaking.
Schools and families can practise moving into protected positions without rushing. A drill should include staying quiet long enough to notice when the movement has stopped, since real earthquakes can feel confusing and may last longer than expected.
The first stop in shaking does not always mean the danger is over. Aftershocks can happen soon afterward and can knock down items that were loosened earlier. Check yourself and nearby people for injuries before moving around.
Use stairs instead of elevators if leaving the building is necessary. Watch for damaged electrical wires, broken gas lines, smoke, and unstable walls. If you smell gas or hear a leak, leave the area and tell an adult or emergency service from a safe location.
Send short messages rather than making long calls when phone networks are busy. Follow instructions from local officials, teachers, or emergency workers because damage and safe routes can differ from one place to another.
Key Facts
- D = Drop: get down on your hands and knees so shaking is less likely to knock you over.
- C = Cover: get under a sturdy desk or table, or protect your head and neck if no shelter is nearby.
- H = Hold: hold on to your shelter so it does not move away from you during shaking.
- O = On: stay on the ground and under cover until the shaking stops.
- Best action order = Drop, then Cover, then Hold On.
- Injury risk increases when you run during shaking because falling debris and loss of balance become more likely.
Vocabulary
- Earthquake
- An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement of rock along a fault in Earth’s crust.
- Drop
- Drop means getting down on your hands and knees to keep stable and avoid being knocked over.
- Cover
- Cover means protecting your head and neck under a sturdy object or with your arms if no shelter is available.
- Hold On
- Hold On means gripping your shelter and staying in place until the shaking stops.
- Falling Debris
- Falling debris is material such as glass, books, ceiling pieces, or furniture that can drop or fly during shaking.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Running outside during shaking is dangerous because most injuries happen while people are moving through falling debris, broken glass, and unstable exits.
- Standing in a doorway is wrong because modern doorways are not usually stronger than the rest of the building and do not protect you from flying objects.
- Leaving your desk too soon is unsafe because aftershocks or continued shaking can cause objects to fall after the first strong motion.
- Covering only your head and forgetting your neck is incomplete because the neck is vulnerable to injury from falling objects and should be protected too.
Practice Questions
- 1 A class has 28 students. During a drill, 21 students correctly Drop, Cover, and Hold On within 10 seconds. What percent of the class responded correctly?
- 2 An earthquake drill starts at 10:15:20 and shaking is simulated for 45 seconds. At what time should students stop holding on if the drill follows the rule of staying covered until shaking stops?
- 3 Explain why staying under a sturdy desk is usually safer than running toward an exit while the shaking is happening.