EVS - Unit 3 - Environmental Pollution
EVS - Unit 3 - Environmental Pollution
POLLUTION CONTROL
POLLUTION
It is a harmful theme for human health.It’s a major problem for anyone.
Pollution may be defined as an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or
biological characteristics of our air, water and land that may harmfully affect human life
& other species also.
Environmental pollution
It is a term that refers to all the ways that human activity harms the natural
environment.
It can be defined as the unfavorable alteration of our surrounding
1.Biodegradable pollutants
It decompose rapidly by natural processes
2.Non -degradable pollutants
It do not decompose or decompose slowly in the environment
DUSTS (Pneumoconiosis)
Inorganic Dust
Coal Dust - Anthracosis
Silica - Silicosis
Asbestos - Asbestosis
Iron - Siderosis
Organic Dusts
Cane Fiber - Bagassosis
(Bronchi gets affected)
1
Health effects:
React with hemoglobin in red blood cells and reduces the ability of blood to bring
oxygen to body cell and tissues which causes headaches and anemia. Coma, brain cell
damage and death.
Environment effects:
Global temp increase
Control:
• Using catalytic converter in automobiles.
Control:
• The gases evolved during combustion of fossil fuels are passed through calcium
carbonate when SO2 is converted to calcium sulphite.
• CaCO3 + SO2 →CaSO3 + CO2
lime is added to coal and roasted at high temperature so that CaO formed
combines with SO2 to form calcium sulphate.
• CaO + SO2 + ½ O2 → CaSO4
2
Suspended particulate matter
- Varity of particles and droplets
- Suspended in atm short to long periods
Human sources
Coal burning power plant and industrial plant, burning diesel and other fuel in
vehicles, agriculture, unpaved roads, construction, etc.,
Health effects:
Nose and throat irritation, lung damage, bronchitis, asthma, reproductive
problems and cancer
Environment effects:
Reduce the visibility.
CONTROL:
Particulate matter in the atmosphere can be controlled using
a. Gravitational settling chambers
b. Centrifugal separators
c. Fabric filters
d. Wet scrubbers
e. Electrostatic or Cottrell separators
Ozone
- Highly reactive irritating gas with un pleasant odour
- Gives photochemical smogHuman sources
- Chemical reaction with volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides
Environment effects:
Moderates climate
Lead pollutant
Sources:
The exhaust from automobiles which use lead tetraethyl as antiknocking agent-
when TEL is used as antiknocking agent, lead is converted to halide and released into the
atmosphere.
Paint pigments : Litharge and red lead ( oxides of lead ) and lead chromate are
used as pigments. These cause lead pollution
Plumbing systems- lead pipes are used for plumbing and these may cause lead
pollution
Effects:
• Lead competes with calcium and enters the blood and bone marrow.
• The lead interferes in the manufacture of red blood corpuscles and abnormal
3
• Multiplication of blood cells and thus leads to anaemia and blood cancer in
human beings.
• Lead enters the blood and various organs of the body including the brain and the
Kidneys leading to dysfunction of the kidney and damage to the brain.
CONTROL MEASURES
Source control
• Use petroleum products and other fuels that have low sulphur and ash content.
• Reduce the number of private vehicles on the road by developing an efficient
public-transport system and encouraging people to walk or use cycles.
• Ensure that houses, schools, restaurants and places where children play are not
located on busy streets.
• Plant trees along busy streets because they remove particulates and carbon
monoxide, and absorb noise.
• Industries and waste disposal sites Should be situated outside the city centre
preferably downwind of the city.
• Use catalytic converters to help control the emissions of carbon monoxide and
hydrocarbons.
WATER POLLUTION :-
Definition
Water pollution may be defined as, "the alteration in physical , chemical and biological
characteristics of water which may cause harmful effects on humans and aquatic life
The pollutants include sewage, industrial chemicals and effluents, oil and other wastes.
Besides, chemicals from the air dissolved in rain tater, and fertilizers, pesticides and
herbicides leached from the land also pollute water.
4
Human Sources (causes)
Human and animals wastes.
Effects
Variety of disease
3. INORGANIC CHEMICALS
4. Organic Chemicals
Ex: Oil, gasoline, plastics, pesticides, cleaning
solvents, detergents
Human Sources (causes)
Industrial effluents, household .cleansers, surface runoff from farms.
Effects
(i) Can threaten human health by causing system damage and some cancers.
5
(ii) Harm fish and wild life.
5. Plant Nutrients
Water soluble compounds containing nitrate , ammonium and phosphate
ions.
Human Sources (causes)
Sewage, manure, and runoff of agricultural and urban fertilizers
Effects
(i) Can cause excessive growth of algae and other aquatic plants, which die, decay,
deplete dissolved oxygen in water and kill the fish.
(ii) Drinking water with excessive levels of nitrates lower the oxygen carrying capacity of
the blood and can kill urban children and infants.
6. Sediment
Ex: Soil, silt, etc.,
Human Sources (causes)
Land erosion.
Effects
(i) Disrupt aquatic food webs.
(ii) Carry pesticides, bacteria, and other harmful substances.
(iii)Settle out and destroy feeding and spawning rounds of fish.
(iv) Can reduce photosynthesis and cloud water.
(v) Clog and fill lakes, artificial reservoirs, stream channels and harbours
6
(iii) The rate of oxidation and demand depends on the amount and type of organic matter
present in river water.
Significance of COD
(i) It is carried out to determine the pollutional strength of river water.
(ii) It is rapid process and takes only 3 hours.
Treatment process
The sewage (or) waste water treatment process involves the following
steps.
I.Preliminary Treatment
In this treatment, coarse solids and suspended impurities
are removed by passing the waste water through bar and mesh screens.
II. Primary treatment (or) Settling process
In this treatment, greater proportion of the suspended inorganic and organic solids
are removed from the liquid sewage by settling.
In order to facilitate quick settling coagulants like alum, ferrous sulphate are
added. These produce large gelatinous precipitates, which entrap finely divided organic
matter and settle rapidly.
` AI2(S04)3 + 6H20 →2AI(OH)3 ↓ + 3H2S04.
7
(b) Activated sludge process
Activated sludge is biologically active sewage and it has a large number of aerobic
bacterias, which can easily oxidise the organic impurities.
The sewage effluent from primary treatment is mixed with the required amount of
activated sludge. Then the mixture is aerated in the aeration tank (Fig.).
Under these condition, Air supply organic impurities of the sewage get oxidized rapidly
by the microorganisms.
After aeration, the sewage is taken to the sedimentation tank. Sludge settle down
in this tank, called activated sludge, a portion of which is used for seeding fresh batch of
the sewage. This process removes about 90-95% of BOD
V. Disposal of sludge
This is the last stage in the sewage treatment. Sludge formed from different steps
can be disposed by
(I) dumping into low-lying areas.
(ii) burning of sludge (incineration),
(iii) dumping into the sea,
(iv) using it as low grade fertilizers
8
(xi) Water should be free from objectionable dissolved gases like H2S.
(xii) Water should be free from objectionable minerals such as lead, chromium,
manganese and arsenic salts.
AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution, addition of harmful substances to the atmosphere resulting in
damage to the environment, human health and quality of life. Or The presence of one or
more contaminants like dust, smoke, mist and odour in the atmosphere which are
injurious to human beings, plants and animals.
Soil pollution
It is defined as, "the contamination of soil by human and natural activities
which may cause harmful effects on living beings
9
TYPES, EFFECTS AND SOURCES (CAUSES) OF SOIL POLLUTION
Soil pollution mainly results from the following sources
– Industrial wastes.
– Urban wastes.
– Agricultural practices.
– Radioactive pollutants.
– Biological agents
INDUSTRIAL WASTES:
Disposal of industrial wastes is the major problem for soil pollution.
SOURCES
The industrial pollutants are mainly discharged from the
various origins such as pulp and paper mills, chemical
industries, oil refineries, sugar factories tanneries, textiles,
steel, distilleries, fertilizers, pesticides, coal and mineral mining
industries, drugs, glass, cement, petroleum and engineering industries etc.,
EFFECT
These pollutants affect and alter the chemical and biological properties of
soil.
As a result, hazardous chemicals can enter into human
food chain from the soil or water and disturb the biochemical
process and finally lead to serious effects on living organisms
URBAN WASTES:
Urban wastes comprises both commercial and domestic wastes consisting of dried
sludge of sewage. All the urban solid wastes are commonly referred to as refuse ..
Constituents of Urban Refuse
• This refuse contains garbage and rubbish materials like plastics, glasses,
metallic cans, fibres, paper, rubbers, street sweepings, fuel residues, leaves,
containers, abandoned vehicles and other discarded manufactured products.
• Urban wastes though disposed off separately from the Indus wastes, can still be
dangerous. This is so because they cannot be easily degraded
AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES:
Modern agricultural practices pollute the soil to a large extent. Today with the
advancing agro-technology, huge quantities of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides,
weedicides are added to increase the crop yield
Apart from these farm wastes, manure, slurry, debris, soil erosion containing
mostly inorganic chemicals are reported to cause soil pollution
RADIOACTIVE POLLUTANTS:
Radioactive substances resulting from explosions of nuclear dust and
radioactive wastes penetrate the soil and accumulate there by creating land pollution.
BIOLOGICAL AGENTS:
Soil gets large quantities of human, animal and bird's excreta which
constitute the major source of land pollution by biological agents
10
Ex:
Heavy application of manures and digested sludge's could cause serious
damage to plants within a few - year Because the sludge's are containing more live
viruses and viable intestinal worms.
In addition to these excreta, faulty sanitation, municipal garbage, waste
water and wrong methods of agricultural practices also induce heavy soil pollution.
• MARINE POLLUTION
Definition
Marine pollution is defined as, "the discharge of waste substances into the sea
resulting in harm to living resources, hazards to human health, hindrance to fishery
and impairment of quality for use of sea water”.
11
Source (causes) of marine pollution
About half of the world population live nearer to coastal lines and gain many
benefits from the coastal zones and oceans. The coastal zones contains rich heritage,
coral reefs, wetlands and sea grass beds.
Solutions to Pollution
Two main methods
– Correction – costly and time intensive
– Prevention – requires attitude changes
Coastal Scientists believe that prevention is better than cure since the
effects of marine pollution maybe irreversible and we may therefore be creating
everlasting damage to the marine ecosystem.
12
Control Measures of Marine- Pollution
• Plants for conserving marine biodiversity must be taken into account of human
needs.
• People should be educated about marine ecosystems and the benefits offered by
them.
• Local communities must be involved in protecting and managing their coastal
resources.
• Social and economic incentives must be offered for
conserving and sustainable use of marine resources.
• The fact that all the oceans in the world are connected must be reflected in the
policies.
• Governments must manage their own waters while
extending cooperation to the neighboring states)
NOISE POLLUTION
Definition
Noise pollution is defined as, "the unwanted, unpleasant or disagreeable sound
that causes discomfort for all living beings."
Noise level
• Normal conversation sound ranges from 35 dB to 60 dB.
• Impairment of hearing takes place due to exposure to noise of 80 dB or more.
• Noise above 140 dB becomes painful.
What is noise?
In simple terms, noise is unwanted sound.
Sound is a form of energy which is emitted by a vibrating body and on reaching
the ear causes the sensation of hearing through nerves.
A noise problem generally consists of three inter-related elements-
• the source,
• the receiver and
• the transmission path.
13
Annoyance
Physiological effects
Loss of hearing
Human performance
Nervous system
Sleeplessness
Damage to material
THERMAL POLLUTION:-
• Thermal Pollution, harmful increase in water temperature in streams, rivers, lakes,
coastal ocean waters.
• Thermal pollution is caused by either dumping hot water from factories and
power plants or removing trees that permitting sunlight to raise the temperature of
these waters.
• Thermal pollution is widespread, affecting many lakes and vast numbers of
streams and rivers.
• The major sources of thermal pollution are electric power plants and industrial
factories.
• Cold waters are better habitat for plants and animals than warm ones because cold
waters contain more dissolved oxygen
Source :
Nuclear power plants
Coal – fired power plants
Industrial effluents
Domestic sewage
Hydro-electric power
Nuclear power plants
- Drainage from hospitals, Research institutes, Nuclear experiments and explosion
14
- Discharged a lot of unutilized heat and traces of toxic radio nuclides
- Emission of Nuclear reactors and processing installation – to ↑ temp in water
bodies
5. Direct mortality:
Unutilized heat in water is responsible for direct, mortality of aquatic organisms..
6. Food storage for fish:
Change in temperature alters the seasonal variation in the type and abundance of
lower organisms.
1. Cooling towers:
• The use of water from water systems for cooling purposes with subsequent return
to the water way after passage through the condenser, is termed as cooling
process.
Cooling tower are of two types.
(a) Wet Cooling tower:
• Hot water, coming out from the Condenser (reactor) is allowed to spray over
baffles. Cool air, With high velocity, is passed from' sides, which takes away the
heat and cools the water.
15
(b) Dry Cooling tower:
Here the hot water is allowed to flow in a long spiral pipes. Cool air, with the help
of fan, is passed over these hot pipes, which cools down the hot water. This cool water
can be recycled.
Cooling ponds:
Spray ponds:
Artificial lakes:
Waste:
Any material which is not needed by the owner, producer or processor.
• E-waste- discarded electronic devices like computer, TV, music systems etc.
• Liquid waste- water used for different industries eg tanneries, distilleries, thermal
power plants
Depending upon the nature, solid wastes can be broadly classified into three types
• Urban (or) Municipal wastes.
• Industrial wastes.
• Hazardous wastes
Sources of. Urban (Municipal) Wastes
• Urban or municipal wastes include the following wastes
16
DOMESTIC WASTES:
It contains a variety of materials thrown out from the homes
Ex: Food waste, cloth, waste paper, glass bottles, polythene bags, waste metals,
etc.,
Commercial wastes:
It includes the wastes coming out from the shops, markets, hotels, offices,
institutions, etc.,
Ex: Waste paper, packing material, cans, bottle, polythen'e bags, etc.,
Construction wastes:
It includes the wastes of construction materials.
Ex: wood, concrete, debris etc.
Biomedical wastes:
It includes mostly the waste organic materials .
Ex: Anatomical wastes, infectious wastes, etc.,
17
Hazardous Wastes
Hazardous wastes are the wastes, that pose a substantial danger immediately or
over a period of time to human, plant or animal life.
TOXIC WASTES:
These are poisonous even in very small or traces amounts.
(a) Acute toxicity:
These wastes have immediate effect on humans or animals causing death.
• Due to improper disposal of municipal solid wastes on the road side and their
immediate surroundings, biodegradable materials undergo decomposition. This
produces foul smell and breeds various types of insects, which spoil the land
value.
• Toxic substances may percolate into the ground and contaminate the ground water
18
• Industrial solid wastes are the sources of toxic metals and hazardous wastes,
which affect the soil characteristics and productivity of soils when they are
dumped on the soil.
• Burning of some of the industrial wastes (or) domestic wastes (like cans,
pesticides, plastics, radioactive materials, batteries) produce furans, dioxins and
polychlorinated biphenyls, which are harmful to human beings.
Process of Solid Waste Management (or) Process of preventing solid waste generation
in urban areas
Solid waste management includes, the waste generation, mode of
collection, transportation, segregation of wastes and disposal techniques.
• (a) Landfill
• (b) Incineration
• (C) Composting
19
Discarding wastes
• For discarding solid wastes the following methods can be adopted.
(a) Landfill (b) Incineration (c) Composting
The proper implementation and especially the individual participation are the
important aspects which should be given due importance and stress.
20
Role of women in environmental protection
Women play an important role in environmental protection, considering their status in
social production, consumption and their influence to future generations at home. Various
roles of women are
• In rural areas, women plant trees and grass, grow vegetables with the drip-
irrigation method in order to save water.
• In urban areas, they go shopping using cloth bags to reduce white pollution.
• Women refuse to use disposal products to save energy and resources.
• Women choose green products instead of poor quality that harm the environment.
• Women reduce the amount of trash they dispose off so as to recycle natural
resources.
• Women buy non-phosphate detergents to reduce the incidence of water pollution.
• They value paper and thus protect trees.
• Women bring the concept of environment protection into families and thus plant a
green seed in the heart of children
9. Forests in and around big cities and industrial establishments are capable
of reducing the sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide pollutants to a greater
extent from the atmosphere. Hence the national goal should be
"Conservation of Forests" and campaign should be "Plant more trees".The
21
global destruction of forests should be discouraged or atleast minimized
and afforestation should be encouraged because no one on this earth will
escape from the adverse effects of a balding earth
10. Basic and applied research in public health engineering should be
encouraged:
11. The possible reuse or recycle of treated sewage effluents and industrial
wastes should be emphasized and encouraged.
Disaster?
‘Disaster’ is defined as a crisis situation causing wide spread damage which far exceeds
our ability to recover.
“Is a natural or human-caused event which causes intensive negative impacts on people,
goods, services and/or the environment, exceeding the affected community’s capability to
respond”
Disaster Management:
Is more than just response and relief (i.e., it assumes a more proactive approach)
Types of Disaster:-
2. Man made disasters. Example – war, bomb blasts, chemical leaks, etc.
The phases of all disasters be it natural or manmade, are the same. The disasters often
differ in quantity of damage caused or in quality of the type of medical consequences. For
example earthquakes cause a lot of physical injury and fractures, floods cause drowning
deaths and infections, chemical leaks cause toxic manifestations, etc.
22
A graphic Representation of the Four Phases in Disaster management
1.Mitigation:-
23
Structural measures use technological solutions, like flood levees.
Mitigation is the most cost-efficient method for reducing the impact of hazards.
However, mitigation is not always suitable and structural mitigation in particular may
have adverse effects on the ecosystem.
3. Response:-
The response phase includes the mobilization of the necessary emergency services and
first responders in the disaster area. This is likely to include a first wave of core
emergency services, such as firefighters, police and ambulance crews. They may be
supported by a number of secondary emergency services, such as specialist rescue teams.
In addition volunteers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the local Red
Cross branch may provide immediate practical assistance, from first aid provision to
providing food and counseling.
Medical assets will be used in accordance with the appropriate triage of the
affected victims. Where required, search and rescue efforts commence at an early stage.
24
Depending on injuries sustained by the victim, outside temperature, and victim access to
air and water, the vast majority of those affected by a disaster will die within 72 hours
after impact. Individuals are often compelled to volunteer directly after a disaster.
Volunteers can be both a help and a hindrance to emergency management and other relief
agencies.
4.Recovery:-
The aim of the recovery phase is to restore the affected area to its previous state.
It differs from the response phase in its focus; recovery efforts are concerned with issues
and decisions that must be made after immediate needs are addressed. Recovery efforts
are primarily concerned with actions that involve rebuilding destroyed property,
reemployment, and the repair of other essential infrastructure. An important aspect of
effective recovery efforts is taking advantage of a ‘window of opportunity’ for the
implementation of mitigate measures that might otherwise be unpopular. Citizens of the
affected area are more likely to accept more mitigate changes when a recent disaster is in
fresh memory.
Avoid building in a floodprone area unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.
Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the
drains of your home.
Contact community officials to find out if they are planning to construct barriers
(levees, beams, floodwalls) to stop floodwater from entering the homes in your area.
Seal the walls in your basement with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage.
Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items
to an upper floor.
25
Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect
electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in
water.
Driving Flood Facts The following are important points to remember when driving in
flood conditions:
Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars causing loss of
control and possible stalling.
A foot of water will float many vehicles.
Two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles including sport utility vehicles
(SUV’s) and pick-ups.
After a Flood The following are guidelines for the period following a flood:
Listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink.
Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water
may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company.
Use extreme caution when entering buildings; there may be hidden damage,
particularly in foundations.
Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as
possible. Damaged sewage systems are serious health hazards.
Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain
sewage and chemicals.
26
Flood: Know Your Terms
Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a flood hazard:
Flood Watch: Flooding is possible. Tune in to Local Radio for Weather Services,
commercial radio, or television for information.
Flash Flood Warning: A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot
immediately.
Check the house; secure loose tiles, carry out repair works for doors and windows
Remove dead woods or dying trees close to the house; anchor removable objects like
lumber piles, loose tin sheds, loose bricks, garbage cans, sign-boards etc. which can fly in
strong winds
Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded if needed
Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, battery operated torches and enough dry
cells
Demolish condemned buildings
Keep some extra batteries for transistors
Keep some dry non-perishable food always ready for emergency use
Listen to the radio (All India Radio stations give weather warnings).
Keep monitoring the warnings. This will help you to prepare for a cyclone emergency.
Pass on the information to others.
Ignore rumours and do not spread them; this will help to avoid panic situations.
27
Believe in the official information
When a cyclone alert is on for your area continue normal working but stay alert to the
radio warnings.
Remember that a cyclone alert means that the danger is within 24 hours. Stay alert.
When your area is under cyclone warning get away from low-lying beaches or other
low-lying areas close to the coast
Leave early before your way to high ground or shelter gets flooded
Do not delay and run the risk of being marooned
If your house is securely built on high ground take shelter in the safer part of the
house. However, if asked to evacuate do not hesitate to leave the place.
Board up glass windows or put storm shutters in place.
Provide strong suitable support for outside doors.
If you do not have wooden boards handy, paste paper strips on glasses to prevent
splinters. However, this may not avoid breaking windows.
Get extra food, which can be eaten without cooking. Store extra drinking water in
suitably covered vessels.
If you are to evacuate the house move your valuable articles to upper floors to
minimize flood damage.
Have hurricane lantern, torches or other emergency lights in working conditions and
keep them handy.
Small and loose things, which can fly in strong winds, should be stored safely in a
room.
Be sure that a window and door can be opened only on the side opposite to the one
facing the wind.
Make provision for children and adults requiring special diets.
If the centre of the cyclone is passing directly over your house there will be a lull in the
wind and rain lasting for half and hour or so. During this time do not go out; because
immediately after that very strong winds will blow from the opposite direction.
Switch off electrical mains in your house.
Remain calm.
28
When Evacuation is instructed
Pack essentials for yourself and your family to last you a few days, including
medicines, special foods for babies and children or elders.
Head for the proper shelter or evacuation points indicated for your area.
Do not worry about your property
At the shelter follow instructions of the person in charge.
Remain in the shelter until you have been informed to leave
Post-cyclone measures
You should remain in the shelter until informed that you can return to your home.
You must get inoculated against diseases immediately.
Strictly avoid any loose and dangling wires from the lamp posts.
If you are to drive, drive carefully.
Clear debris from your premises immediately.
Report the correct loss to appropriate authorities.
Repair deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations. Get expert advice if there are
signs of structural defects.
Anchor overhead lighting fixtures to the ceiling.
Follow BIS codes relevant to your area for building standards
Fasten shelves securely to walls.
Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets
with latches.
Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds, settees, and anywhere
people sit.
Brace overhead light and fan fixtures.
Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire
risks.
Secure a water heater, LPG cylinder etc., by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it
to the floor.
Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with
latches and on bottom shelves.
29
heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over
4. In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, flyovers, bridges
Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually
foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps
to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure
exiting is safe.
30
If indoors
DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of
furniture; andHOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you,
cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
Protect yourself by staying under the lintel of an inner door, in the corner of a room,
under a table or even under a bed.
Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall,
such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head
with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move
to the nearest safe place.
Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a
strongly supported, loadbearing doorway.
Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that
most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location
inside the building or try to leave.
Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn
on.
DO NOT use the elevators.
If outdoors
Stay there.
Move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and utility wires.
Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly
outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Most earthquake-related casualties
result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.
If in a moving vehicle
Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under
buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that
might have been damaged by the earthquake.
31
After an earthquake
Keep calm, switch on the radio/TV and obey any instructions you hear on it.
Keep away from beaches and low banks of rivers. Huge waves may sweep in.
Expect aftershocks. Be prepared.
Turn off the water, gas and electricity.
Do not smoke and do not light matches or use a cigarette lighter. Do not turn on
switches. There may be gas leaks or short-circuits.
Use a torch.
If there is a fire, try to put it out. If you cannot, call the fire brigade.
If people are seriously injured, do not move them unless they are in danger.
Immediately clean up any inflammable products that may have spilled (alcohol, paint,
etc).
If you know that people have been buried, tell the rescue teams. Do not rush and do not
worsen the situation of injured persons or your own situation.
Avoid places where there are loose electric wires and do not touch any metal object in
contact with them.
Do not drink water from open containers without having examined it and filtered it
through a sieve, a filter or an ordinary clean cloth.
If your home is badly damaged, you will have to leave it. Collect water containers, food,
and ordinary and special medicines (for persons with heart complaints, diabetes, etc.)
Do not re-enter badly damaged buildings and do not go near damaged structures.
32