Wherever you be at the moment of an earthquake, find shelter immediately. If needed, go to a safe location nearby, and stay there the trembling stops.

If you are inside : Find shelter and hold on to something

• Find shelter under heavy furniture, like a table, desk, bed or other solid furniture.
• Cover your head and your torso in order to protect you from any object that might fall on you.
• Hold on to the object under which you took refuge in order to stay covered.
• If there is no solid furniture under which you can take refuge or if you are in a hallway, put yourself in a crouch position against the wall.
• If you are in a mall, enter the closest store. Stay away from windows and the alleys containing heavy objects.
• If you are at school, take refuge under a desk or a table and hold on. Turn your back to the windows.
• If you are in a wheelchair, lock the wheels and protect your neck and head.

If you are outside

• Stay outside.
• Go toward an empty area, away from buildings.
• If you are in a crowded public place, take refuse in a spot where you won’t be trampled.

If you are driving

• Try to stop in a safe area where you won’t block the road. Free the way for emergency and rescue vehicles.
• Avoid bridges, underpasses or overpasses and roads surrounding by buildings that could collapse.
• Stop the car and stay in it.
• Listen to the radio to get the instructions from emergency officials.
• Don’t get out of your car if electric lines fell on it. Wait for someone to rescue you.
• If you need help, make yourself notice using a sign where you’ll write "HELP" in big letters.
• If you are in a bus, stay seated until the bus stops. Take refuge in a protected area. If that’s impossible, crouch on your seat and protect yourself from debris.

To AVOID in cases of earthquakes :

• Doors : they could fall down on you and hurt you.
• Windows, bookcases, tall furniture and lights : you could get injured by broken glass or heavy objects.
• Elevators : if you are in an elevator during an earthquake, press on the button of every floor and get out as soon as you can.
• Fallen electric lines : stay at a distance of at least 10 meters to avoid injuries.
• Coasts : earthquakes can cause important oceanic waves called tsunamis.