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How to protect yourself from a building collapse and survive under the rubble

Цей матеріал також доступний українською

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PHOTO: Wikipedia

Attacks by Russian drones and systematic missile strikes on residential areas of Ukrainian cities are a reality that requires every Ukrainian to know the safety rules and algorithms for behavior in emergency situations. One of the cases when correct, clear actions can save your life is the risk of a building collapse and being trapped under the rubble.

If you are in a building

Try to leave the building as soon as possible.

When doing so:

Quickly take your documents and money with you. Ideally, you should have an "emergency suitcase" ready for such cases, which will allow you not to waste time looking for the most necessary things in times of threat.
If you are going down from the upper floors, do not use the elevator, only the stairs.
When moving through a building that may collapse, protect your head from debris with a briefcase, bag, or hands.

Once outside, move to a safe distance from the collapsed building.

Report the collapsed building to the State Emergency Service.

If you are near a collapsed building and hear someone calling for help from under the rubble, respond and ask where the victim is and what condition he or she is in. Do not try to reach the victim yourself. Unprofessional rescue efforts can cost you and the victim their lives.

If you did not have time to leave the building

If possible, de-energize the room, turn off the gas and water.

Do not run to the balcony or stand near windows.

Use the safest places in the structure (doorways, corners) as a shelter. Try to find the "triangle of life" - the space near massive objects (sofa, bed, table), where a so-called "safety pocket" is formed.

At the same time:

Lie on your side in the fetal position.
Cover your head with a backpack, bag, or hands.

If you find yourself under the rubble

Calm down and do not panic: panic increases oxygen consumption. Realize the main thing: you are alive.

Breathe slowly, even if there is dust in your lungs. Take care of your strength.

Assess whether you can move.

Call for help. If someone responds, tell them where you are and what happened to you. Even if you are not heard, remember: a building collapse will be quickly noticed and rescue efforts will begin immediately.

Don't shout all the time: save oxygen. Instead, knock on pipes, batteries, and walls.

If you have a phone with you and can pick it up, call the rescuers. Call or text 101 or 112.

If you have your arms and legs stuck, carefully try to free them without making sudden movements so as not to provoke a further collapse. But if a limb is trapped, do not try to free it by force.

If you have managed to free yourself from the blockage, examine yourself.

At the same time:

Do not light matches or lighters because of the risk of gas leakage and to avoid wasting oxygen.

If you are injured and bleeding, stop it as soon as possible with a belt or a piece of cloth torn from your clothing.

If you are safe and can move safely, see if anyone nearby needs your help.

If you are covered by objects that are not too heavy, carefully try to disassemble the blockage. Do not touch the debris on which it rests.

If possible, put something on the floor under you to avoid hypothermia. Lie on your side, pull your knees up to your chest, and wrap your arms around your head. In this position, wait for rescue.

If you hear the sound of rescue operations, scream and knock as hard as you can. Do this when the noise of the work subsides, otherwise you may not be heard.