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Cabudare Kids

What do I do if it shakes?

Three easy steps to protect yourself if the ground moves, and a game to practice.

Drop, cover and hold on

If you feel the ground shaking, don't run. Do these three things, in this order:

  • Drop: get down on your hands and knees, like a turtle.
  • Cover: get under a strong table. If there is no table, cover your head and neck with your arms.
  • Hold on: hold on to the table leg until the shaking stops.

Wherever you are

  • In bed: stay there and cover your head with the pillow.
  • Outside: move away from walls, poles and power lines. Drop in an open space.
  • In the car: stay seated, with your seat belt on, until it stops.
  • A doorway does not protect you. You are safer under a table.
  • Don't use the elevator.

Pack the bag with your family

With a grown-up, pack a bag for three days.

You can choose a toy or a book to take.

  • Water and food that won't spoil.
  • A flashlight with batteries. Never candles.
  • A whistle to call for help.
  • Your family's phone numbers, written on paper.

After the shaking

Sometimes the ground shakes a little again. That is called an aftershock.

If it happens, drop, cover and hold on again.

It is normal to feel scared. Tell a grown-up how you feel.

Breathe slowly together, as if you were blowing up a balloon.

Earthquakes are part of nature. Nobody is to blame.

Practice at home a couple of times a year. It's like a game!

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For grown-ups

For grown-ups: notes and links to sources

This page teaches children aged 7 to 12 what to do if the ground shakes, with advice from UNICEF, the Great ShakeOut and the Earthquake Country Alliance.

It shows no figures, damage or pictures of the earthquake. If your child asks, UNICEF advises explaining calmly that it is a natural event nobody is responsible for, and keeping regular meal and sleep times.

This page asks for no data, saves nothing and sends nothing.

The guide for adults, with the emergency bag, Lara's phone numbers and what to do after, is on Cabudare.com: What to do if it shakes again