During earthquake, stay in bed or get under bed?

Question

I was just curious --a lot of the earthquake safety guidelines say to duck and cover under sturdy tables, etc, but that if you're in bed, you should stay in bed unless there are large objects nearby that might fall on you. Why is it safer to stay IN bed as opposed to getting underneath the bed?

Answer 1

Because if you're under the bed, it can fall on you during the quake.

Answer 2

Ummm....is "non of the above" a choice? When we earthquake engineers go and do reconnaissance immediately after a major earthquake, where do you think we see most of the casualties? Hiding under tables, beds, chairs, etc., right before the building collapsed on them. There's no way the 4 little legs of a BED are going to hold up a collapsed wall or roof. Get real, People!

Most people who get rescued from a collapsed building survived because they crouched and covered NEXT to a sturdy piece of furniture, not beneath it. If my bed was large enough, and if I didn't have any loose furniture or other items (i.e., a window) in the immediate vicinity that could potentially cause me more harm, I would roll off my bed and crouch next to it during the earthquake shaking. The moment the shaking stopped, I would seek to evacuate IMMEDIATELY from the structure to an open area outside clear of any falling debris.

Answer 3

It's not.  Did it ever occur to you that the roof could cave in on your head?

Answer 4

If the bed is sturdy and can support the ceiling falling on it then under, if not then in.

Answer 5

you should not at all stay on bed as walls can fell down on you. You can hide yourself under the bed if your bed is strong enough, however the best way is to go into the corner of the walls which is the most safe way

Answer 6

PROTECTION DURING EARTHQUAKES

The following are some of the important precaution to be observed to save our life during an earthquake. Even though we do not have fool proof system to fore warn earthquakes some of the changes in nature or in the behaviors of animals and birds may help to decide the situations.

Before an earthquake.

Have a battery powered radio, flash light, and first aid kids in your house ,

Make sure every one knows where they are kept ,

Lean first aid; teach how to stop electric main and gas supply ,

Don’t keep heavy objects in high shelves ,

Fasten heavy appliances to the floor, and anchor heavy furniture to the walls ,

Plan for your family for reuniting after an earthquake if anybody separated ,

Urge your school teachers to discuss earthquake safety in the class rooms, and ask them to conduct drills ,

Find out your office has an emergency plan, know your responsibility at your works during an emergency .

During an earthquake.

Stay calm if you are indoors, stay out if you are out of buildings. Many injuries occur as people enter or leave the buildings.

If you are indoors , stand against the a wall near the center of the building, or get under a sturdy table  keep some cushion on your head, Stay away from windows and outside doors, if you are in a high rise building stand against a support column.

If you are in outdoor  stay in the open place , keep away from over head electric wires. and bridges,

Don’t use open flames, if you are in a moving vehicle stop away from over bridges and stay inside the vehicle still earthquake stops.

After an earthquake.

Check yourself and nearby people for injury, provide first aid,

Check electric and gas connection,

Turn on your radio or T.V for emergency instructions, reduce the use of phone lines it may be required for conveying some important messages.

Stay out of damaged buildings,

Wear chapels and gloves to protect against shattered glass and debris.

Stay away from beaches and water front areas where Tsunami could strike, even long after the shaking has stopped.

Have one earthquake alarm fixed in your house.

Answer 7

Under the bed. But it is better if you go on the first floor and go under a sturdy table. That's what I do.  

Answer 8

During an earthquake, you should "drop, cover and hold on". . . if you are awake and in a normal environment.  If you're in bed, the assumption is that the earthquake is at night, and you are in your bedroom sleeping.  The worry is that if you try to "drop, cover and hold on" in the dark, you may cause yourself more injury in the few seconds that the quake is occuring as you try and scramble out of bed.  Quakes usually don't last that long. . . it just seems like forever.  Once the shaking stops, evacuate.

Most people have bookshelves, mirrors, armoires, dressers and other furniture in their bedrooms.  Let's have a signal of hands as to how many people actually have these all strapped in and screwed into studs properly accounting for their height and weight?  If you leave the bed, these things may fall on you on your way to "safety", again causing more injury, but they are also typically spaced far enough away that they wouldn't fall directly on you if you just stayed in bed.  Finally, if these things do fall around the bed, while you're underneath it, good luck trying to evacuate quickly (aftershocks are equally dangerous), as they may hinder your ability to get out from under the bed.

The only thing you have to worry about is the roof collapsing, which in an increasing majority of homes, this should not be a problem.  All these recommendations are under the assumption that you are living in America, where building codes, ordinances, and regulations should have been enforced (hopefully).  These recommendations change in other parts of the world where construction quality is unknown.

Answer 9

Stay in bed, who knows what you will find under it