The Better DCH: Duck, Cover and Hold the Proper Way

7/1/2017

When an earthquake happens, there's more to the DCH than just hiding under a table.
By J. Delano

Mr. Noel Ison giving a disaster preparedness class. Photo by J. Delano

An earthquake can strike without warning. Some like the 9.1 magnitude Indian Ocean Earthquake ruptured in the morning at 7:58 AM of December 26, 2004. Yet, the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011 happened during the middle of the afternoon at 2:00 PM. That earthquake was a magnitude 9.0.

A practical approach if you live in an earthquake zone is to know your first response once you feel the earth shaking. Mr. Noel Ison of Alpha 3 Crisis Management, a twenty year practitioner in security and disaster preparedness based in Manila, advises the accepted action by most earthquake safety experts during a strong earthquake.

Ison said, "Remember to DUCK, COVER and HOLD."

Related: The Smarter Family GO-bag... Rather Than the Ultimate One

Ison demonstrating the Duck, Cover and Hold. Photo by J. Delano.

Duck and Protect

Even so, going down on all fours and hiding under a table is just not enough. Ison demonstrated a three step method. First of all, move your right arm up and cover the top of your head with your right hand. This will protect your head and especially your skull.

The second step involves your left hand and arm covering your nape, that back part of your neck.

"This would shield your spine," he said.

After shielding your vital nervous system, the third move is to crouch under a sturdy four-legged structure like a table and kneel with one knee on the floor.

Ison said, "This position enables you to get away with one move."

     Both knees on the ground will at least need two moves for you to stand and escape if the situation gets horribly worse.

     How about pregnant women who couldn't crouch because of their belly? Ison recommended that they could sit beneath the table or, "go for the next best thing."

Don't forget the HOLD part

     That table you are kneeling under seems comfy. It's like a party down there with all the suspense and adolescent adrenaline, but you forgot to hold.

"You should hold at least one of the legs of the table with your hand," said Ison.

This will prevent it from sliding off place which will unfortunately open you to falling debris. The tremors are so strong it can move furniture around.

Positioning

Stuck between those chic and modern glass panels in the office? That's perhaps the worst place to be in an earthquake. The glass will break once the quake begins and the shards of glass will surely injure anyone.

     "The strongest points are the pillars," said Ison. "How about doorways? Doorways aren't really the best option. Remember, doors swing and will hit you while sliding doors have little support."

Running to escape at that moment won't necessarily help you too compared to protecting yourself, even if you have practiced this with your family and your GO-bag. Ison recounted a story from his cousin during the 1990 Baguio City earthquake where he was six feet from his girlfriend and he couldn't come close to help her. The ground shook so much it was hard to stand let alone run.

     Finally, Ison gave some wise counsel. "If you're already outside of the building, stay outside."

     You can reach Mr. Noel Ison on his LinkedIn.

About the author

J. Delano is an amateur photographer, story buff and occasional Cardiopulmonary resuscitation stand-in.

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