Why running outdoors during an earthquake is dangerous

After Sunday's tremors shook New Delhi, a friend mentioned that she picked up her baby and rushed outside. She had the best intentions, obviously, but here's why it was a bad idea.

Indian towns are densely built up. Many buildings are not designed to be earthquake-safe. If you go outside during an earthquake, you could get severely injured, or even buried, by falling debris (an air-conditioner, a balcony, a wall).

So if you're indoors, stay there. If you are near an outer wall of the building, move towards the interior, but no more than a few steps. Then follow the "drop, cover, hold on" method. Drop to the floor, as tremors can suddenly get too violent to walk or even crawl. Cover your head and neck with one arm, and crouch under a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a desk or dining table. Then hold on to a table leg. As the earthquake continues, be prepared to move with the table you are holding on to.

If you have a disability that might prevent you from getting out from under the table afterwards, just stay there until help arrives. If you are in a wheelchair, lock your wheels, and cover your head and neck with a pillow or hardcover book. Stay put until the shaking stops.

Do this each time you feel an aftershock, too. "Drop, cover, hold on" is recommended by disaster management agencies worldwide as the best way to protect yourself. Many of them point out that while the media often highlight building collapses, the risk of injury from flying objects is more common.

In this two-and-a-half-minute video from 2010, a search and rescue officer of the Los Angeles Fire Department refers to the rescue operation after an earthquake devastated Haiti earlier that year. He says: "What we're looking for when buildings collapse is people trapped in survivable void spaces. The best way to get in survivable void spaces… is to drop, cover and hold on."

If there is no sturdy furniture to duck under, crouch near a wall with no mirrors, bookshelves or other heavy items that could fall and injure you. Alternatively, crouch next to a low, heavy object on the floor that could potentially create a survivable void space. If you are in bed when the earthquake starts, curl up face down, cover your head and neck with a pillow, and hold on. Leave the building only if you must, and use the stairs, not the lift. Go out only if you can reach an open space quickly.

If you are outdoors when an earthquake starts, move to an open space and drop to the ground. Stay away from buildings, tall trees, lampposts, and overhead cables. If you are driving, stop in a clear location and stay there with your seat belt on. Stay away from flyovers, ramps, and underpasses. If you are on a beach, drop and wait for the shaking to stop, and then quickly get to higher ground by a safe route, especially if the water recedes suddenly.

After the earthquake, check yourself for injuries before helping others. Look for falling debris before moving out of your safe place. If you are driving somewhere, avoid bridges as they may be damaged, and remember that traffic lights may not work. Stay away from damaged buildings.

Reacting quickly during an earthquake could be the difference between life and death, so make a response plan and get some practice. Don't let cynics tell you you're overreacting. You owe it to yourself, your loved ones and your employees. Take a look around you right now, and identify the safe and dangerous spots where you are. Do "drop, cover, hold on" drills with your kids, so that they can react swiftly, confidently and calmly if the need arises.

There is no way to predict earthquakes, but some preventive measures can reduce the risk of injury and death. The "non-earthquake-safe" buildings cannot be altered to make them substantially safer, but new ones can be designed to withstand the calamity. In any case, you can make your home, school or office safer by anchoring tall items, such as bookcases, to the wall. Ensure that cabinets have strong locks, so the contents don't get tossed around the room during an earthquake.

We can't predict or prevent earthquakes, but we can reduce the possibility of harm. A fatalistic attitude could be self-fulfilling - and extremely costly.