Earthquake email advice 'dangerous'
BY IAN STEWARD
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Authorities are warning against following a controversial method of surviving an earthquake called the "Triangle of Life".
National Crisis Management Centre issued a statement this morning condemning email-circulated, "dangerous" advice that "people who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed".
The triangle theory says that people should seek refuge next to something that will support falling debris and create a triangular "void" for people to survive in.
The Civil Defence & Emergency Management Ministry, the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, the Earthquake Commission (EQC) and GNS Science all denounced the theory after queries were received from MPs, schools, Citizens' Advice Bureaux, media and members of the public.
Civil Defence director John Hamilton said when an earthquake starts, the best advice was still to "drop, cover and hold".
"With the continuing aftershocks in the Canterbury region it is especially important the 'drop cover and hold' advice continues to be followed."
"Drop, cover and hold" was based on international best practice, he said.
"In a severe earthquake it is absolutely vital that people respond immediately. Confusion about what to do can result in people getting seriously injured or killed"
"Our advice is to identify safe places in your home, office or school before an earthquake so that when the shaking starts you can respond quickly."
- © Fairfax NZ News
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Interesting coincidence - both the Haiti and Christchurch earthquakes involved the discovery of new fault lines.
I have a rubber wood dinning table, its my new best friend, its so strong.Ive had it for 10 years not a scratch.Stayed under on Saturday morning and was more worried about the floor giving way.
P #8
..Exactly my point on misinformation. Your information was based on what you heard from the radio. Maybe you should read the following from today's Herald that I would assume readers would heed.. and refer to last nights Campbell live TV coverage. See. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10672093.
My point still stands - we should have informed advice that we all follow.
Richard #10 basically covered it, but I would just like to point out how little sense the triangle theory makes - if the table collapses under the weight of the stuff falling on it, it won't matter whether you are under or beside it, it is still going to fall on you.
The triangle theory still assumes that the table or similar is going to hold up to the weight falling on it, but if smaller debris such as chimney bricks come through the roof - the most likely scenario - just look around Chch for evidence - and you have nothing covering you - ouch.
@Jay #7 - New Zealand buildings don't pancake or have roofs fall in - a result of our strict building codes. Note how many buildings lost entire walls, even two, but their roofs held up? There is far more danger of being hit by falling bricks or other objects, so "drop" (get low so you don't get thrown off balance) "cover" (get under something strong enough to intercept a brick and "hold" on to something solid so you stay there.
Doug Copp's credentials are very suspect - he has been investigated for fraud after poking around in the WTC wreckage, not doing any "real" rescue work and claiming $650,000 compensation for injuries received. Studies quoted were in a building which was collapsed by knocking its columns out - no simulation of earthquake shaking.
I agree with #3. There has been a series on TVNZ called surviving disaster. The show involves dramatization and advice on surviving a range a situations. The show has included scenarios such as home invasion, pandemics and of course earthquakes. Much of the information in the show is sketchy at best. Furthermore, i think some of the topics covered by the show do little more than create unnecessary fear and confusion among members of the public.
Chris #5
I've many a structural engineer on National Radio in the past few days confirming that sheltering in a doorway in NZ houses is in fact a very good options. Please stop scaremongering and stick to the recommendation - hide under something solid or in the doorway. Perhaps the comments on this post should be disabled so that people cannot spread misinformation.
The "Triangle" Theory makes so much more sense than going under a doorway or a table, like a previous comment thinking about it logically my dining table would not stand the weight of 2 or 3 adults let alone the falling weight of a roof and other debris. Maybe we need to make our dining tables earthquake proof???
The advise by this man from ARTI is plausible, and makes sense,[I have googled his name and the ARTI, as far as I can make out,all bona fide] However for the Civil Defence to start advising people to change from the 'duck and cover' may be too confusing for the already traumatised and confused population of Canterbury. Maybe, when all of this is over we NZers can start to have a good look at practices and see what is out moded and what can be improved. This is too important an issue to dismiss out of hand, after all, it isnt that long ago when we were told that flight was impossible and that we were to put butter on burns. Makes you think
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