It’s #ShakeOut day, everyone! As one of your friendly neighborhood seismologists, I’d like to talk about safety during earthquakes. The main takeaway is DROP, COVER, & HOLD ON, but let’s go into more detail... 
To start, let’s review the major hazards in an earthquake. The things most likely BY FAR to hurt you during an earthquake of any size are: 1. tripping or falling on shaking ground, and 2. being struck by a falling object.
Your best bet to stay safe is to mitigate those very common hazards, so as soon as you feel shaking, you should DROP to the ground, find COVER under something sturdy, and HOLD ON tightly to remain covered throughout shaking.
Some folks mistakenly think it's safer to run out of and away from buildings during shaking. However, injuries from trying to move on shaking ground are common and can prevent you from reaching safety later. Drop, cover, & hold on FIRST, then get out AFTER shaking stops.
The doorway myth is another one that won’t quit, so say it loud and clear: there’s nothing safer about doorways! In many cases, doorways are actually LESS safe, since they put you in range to be hit by a swinging door. Just drop, cover, & hold on!
It’s also important to remember that aftershocks are still earthquakes, so you should drop, cover, & hold on whether it’s the first one or the fiftieth! Larger earthquakes can sometimes follow smaller ones, and injuries can still happen in small earthquakes.
In the LA area, you can get the ShakeAlertLA app, which can give you a few seconds of warning in some situations. When the alarm goes off, you should drop, cover, and hold on ASAP so you’re already in a safe place when the shaking arrives. Info here: earthquake.lacity.org/shakealertla
Of course, you can’t drop, cover, & hold on in every scenario. In bed? Stay there and cover your head and neck with a pillow. Driving? Slow down and pull over at the next safe location, being mindful of traffic around you. More situations here: earthquakecountry.org/step5/
There are also modified versions of drop, cover, & hold on for folks with mobility limitations. Here are a few, and more are available here: earthquakecountry.org/disability/
Keep in mind that this info is for DURING an earthquake. There’s also a lot you can do to prepare for the next earthquake, and to stay safe after the shaking stops. Check out earthquakecountry.org to learn what supplies and know-how will help you before, during, and after!
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