Press release on top 10 tips for earthquake safety in error

“Having liaised with the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management, we understand that our press release earlier this week on the top 10 tips for earthquake safety recommending the ‘triangle of life’ approach was in error and should be replaced by the information below,” states Chris Hight, a highly experienced Auckland counsellor working in Christchurch.

“We offer a heartfelt apology for any negative impacts this may have caused. We received the information from what we believed was a trusted source and our best intentions in passing on this information did not work out as we had hoped.”

Instead the Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management have approved the following advice.

“When an earthquake starts, the best advice is still to ‘drop, cover and hold’. This is the drill practised by school children: drop down, take cover under a desk or table, and hold on."

“With the continuing aftershocks in the Canterbury region it is especially important the ‘drop cover and hold’ advice continues to be followed. In a severe earthquake it is absolutely vital that people respond immediately. Confusion about what to do can result in people getting seriously injured or killed. Remember ‘drop, cover and hold’ is still the best advice. An immediate response to move to a safe place can save lives. And that safe place should be within a few steps – no more than two metres – to avoid injury from flying debris.”

To find the recommended advice online about how to respond to an earthquake in more detail, please go to www.getthru.govt.nz and choose ‘earthquake’.

“Once again we apologise for any concerns we may have caused inadvertently,” notes Hight.

ends

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