With so many earthquakes happening across the world, you may be thinking about your own preparations for one where you live. As a senior citizen, you have to take more steps than others to gather the supplies you need in advance and to take cover during the earthquake.
Plan to Take Cover
During an earthquake you may have to take cover under sturdy furniture. A work desk or table will do, and picking one out ahead of time is important. You don’t want to have to worry about figuring it all out when an earthquake happens. Do a “take cover” drill once a month, so that going to the desk of choice becomes a habit, and doing a drill makes your plan easier to remember. It will also give you a chance to remove things that are blocking your way or would be dangerous to have nearby during an earthquake. For example, if the desk is located near a shelf that has heavy objects, you’ll have to remove those objects to a lower shelf away from the desk. During an earthquake, those could fall on you and cause serious injuries.
Anchor Equipment
Heavy objects on high shelves are not the only things to worry about in an earthquake. Some of the special equipment you use on a daily basis, such as oxygen tanks and other life support equipment need to be anchored to the wall or floor. You will avoid the risk of your equipment crashing into you or falling on you when the ground shakes.
Extra Walking Aids
If you need assistance walking, it’s important to buy and store extra canes, walkers or other walking aids around your home. An earthquake may cause you to stay in one part of your home for a while, and it would be good to be able to move around when it’s safe. If you couldn’t get to your walking aid in time, you could be stuck.
Keep an Emergency Kit Where You’ll Take Cover
You’ll need a well stocked emergency kit to help you survive an earthquake. It should include enough food and water, medical and first aid supplies including prescription drugs, eyeglasses and hearing aids and other things you’ll need to stay alive and well for at least three days. If an earthquake happens, your kit will already be in the place you plan to take cover. You won’t have to worry about finding it first.
Communications
A pre-made commercial emergency kit will include an AM/FM radio. You’ll need one to find out the status of the earthquake in your area. In addition to a radio, phone lines may be down. Planning a chain of communications ahead of time will help friends, family and others know that you are safe or need help. Talk with a neighbor that you trust to check in with you after an emergency. Share that person’s cell phone and land line numbers with family in case there’s an opportunity to communicate using a phone. Have one or two other neighbors lined up to do the same. If one person is unable to come to your aid, at least you’ll have a backup or two.
Any area can be hit by an earthquake. Don’t ignore preparations just because you believe you live in an area that is not high risk. Getting some basic preparedness supplies, an earthquake preparedness kit and learning a little bit about what to do will pay dividends later.
I live in the Bay area so earthquakes are a way of life here. My family for years has had an earthquake plan in place that we try to review at least once a year. The most important thing I have learned about earthquakes is too know that they do happen and not to panic. Problems arise when people tend to overact and get out of hand. Great Post.
Thank you for this information. My grandmother is 91 and I will make sure to go over this with her the next time I see her. She has a lot of little trinquets and antiques that we will probably need to look into moving or setting in a place where they won’t fall. My grandmother has a basement but she rarely if ever uses it. Thanks for posting such useful information.
This has been a very informative post for me. I wouldn’t consider myself a senior citizen, but I am also not a spring chicken either. The information I found on this post was extremely helpful as I realized as I get older that the small things such as anchoring heavy objects, having a simple emergency kit and even talking to neighbors and family are vital to earthquake saftey. Thanks for the great insight you have provided here I will make sure to pass it on to my friends who aren’t exactly as they think they are(myself included).
Great post. My mother is getting up there in years and this will be important information for not only her but myself. Just by taking a few precautions will better help my mom be prepared if a earthquake hits. Thanks you.
Thank you for helping out those who are considered senior citizens. I am 60 years old and all though I don’t feel that old (more like 45):) I do know that in the not to distant future I won’t be as spry as I used to be, and having taking the right steps to protect myself and my family from earthquakes will be very beneficial. Cheers.
Thanks for the great info on this. It’s funny how in times of disaster we tend to forget that there are those who may not have the health or age to cope with such events as an earthquake. This is a great post that provides awesome resources for these great people to have when such disasters occur.
Thank you for the post,I have been looking for a while for information about earthquake safety especially safety with Senior Citizens. In fact I was talking about this with my sister last night, mostly how we would handle our aging mother if an earthquake happened. Your insight on this has been great. Thank you.
I agree with many of the comments above it seems that there should be more emphasis on teaching senior citizens earthquake saftey and preparedness. I know that the list of things senior citizens can do to prepare themselves also applies to grownups and children as well. I guess the most important thing here it to just be prepared. Thanks for the post.
In our home my wife and I besides having an emergency/first aid kit in each one of cars we also have one in our bedroom, living room and basement. This has been a very beneficial not only for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren as we have had a few times when we have had to fix up a few bumps and brusies. I hope that if we are caught in a disaster we will be fully prepared.
Okay I will admit it I am a senior citizen, I read over your list of tips of how senior citizens can be ready for earthquakes and found it very informative. There are are few things here on this list that I need to focus on such as anchoring heavy objects and finding an emergency kit that has all the things I need to survive. Thank you for this resource.
I much like the other commentors have parents who are senior citzens. My parents are still pretty spry, but it won’t hurt to review a few of these tips with them. You never know when the time will come when my parents or myself as well will experience an earthquake and have to remember these tips to help us. Thank you.
I agree with the other comments, this is very important info. I am one these so called “senior citizens”, yes I am 78 and proud of it. I can’t tell you how important it is for those my age and older to know and recognize that in emergencies such as a earthquake, we have to be doubly prepared and know what we can and can’t do, and not be afraid to ask for a helping hand. Great Post Thank You.
Thank you for a very informative post! I always worry about my folks, and often stay late at night thinking about ways to protect them.
The article made great points and I realize that I have to update my parents with this information.