Interesting Stories in Quaffs...
Daniel Chuas Wazzup
Back to Profile28May2008
Earthquake survivalRead More
Please read this and pass the info along to your family members; it could save their lives someday!
EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON THE: 'TRIANGLE OF LIFE'
My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the
American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced
rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.
I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams
from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a
member of many rescue teams from many countries.
I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years. I
have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for
simultaneous disasters.
The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City
during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child
was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by
lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and
I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't at the time
know that the children were told to hide under something.
Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings
falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a
space or void next to them. This space is what I call the 'triangle of life'.
The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the
object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that
the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next
time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the 'triangles' you
see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see,
in a collapsed building.
TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
1) Most everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE are crushed to death People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.
2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position.
You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.
3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during
an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake.
If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created.
Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick
buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but
less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.
4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply
roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a
much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on The back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.
5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out
the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to
a sofa, or large chair.
6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is
killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or
backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideway28Dec2007
Read MoreOn well lit roads in places like Singapore, motorists could turn their head lamps just one notch instead of two for half-lamp usage. This not only saves energy use/petrol consumption but also reduces road glare.
Tires should be well inflated as well to enable better rolling.
Should the driver not expect to change their own tires, but call the AA or similar breakdown service, remove the spare tire. This will help also with acceleration.
Changing tire rims to lighter ones will help - my original tire rims were nearly Twice the weight of the replacement ones.
Any other Great ideas to share?21Dec2007
Read MoreHey Ho, if anyone wants to have an Apple Iphone, ready for use in Singapore of course (; p) do drop me an email at aonia@singnet.com.sg!
Hear from you!26Nov2007
Read More<table height="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td height="1"><embed src="http://www.myheritagefiles.com/video/I/28/xq7s25_492127d51b9474341iz825" width="340" height="340" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></td></tr></table>
28Oct2007
Read MoreI wonder how many of the Americans soldiers in the Middle East can speak even a word of the local languages. Language can be such a unifying force and in its absence be so divisive.
I'd advocate more languages be taught in schools, and along with them their associated cultures so that Humanity may be more United and harmonious - after all, there are so many of the world's problems that can be so much better overcome with more collaboration, eg Poverty.
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