Earthquakes can happen at any time, and knowing how to react can make all the difference during an emergency. To strengthen the Peruvian population's preparedness for earthquakes, the Good Hope Adventist Clinic (Clínica Good Hope, CAGH) and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Peru held a live program on YouTube, sharing recommendations for what to do before, during, and after an earthquake emergency.
The program was hosted by Marco Saint Pere, director of the Lifestyle Medicine program at CAGH. He spoke with Santos Guerrero, a project formulation specialist from ADRA Peru.
During the broadcast, Pere and Guerrero discussed practical earthquake preparedness and response measures. Among these, they emphasized the importance of remaining calm, participating in drills, and knowing evacuation routes and safe locations in advance.
“We are creatures of habit,” the specialists pointed out, explaining that practice allows for a faster response in an emergency. Therefore, they recommended taking drills seriously and using them to identify the location of the emergency kit, how to evacuate, and what to do if communications fail.
Prepare before the emergency
A key topic of discussion was preparing an emergency kit. The experts explained that having the necessary items and knowing where they are can facilitate a quick response during the initial moments of an earthquake.
They also discussed potential communication failures after an earthquake and the importance of establishing contact methods with family and close friends beforehand.
Another topic discussed related to myths about how to protect oneself during an earthquake. In response to these myths, the experts emphasized the importance of knowing accurate safety recommendations and putting them into practice before an emergency occurs.
The importance of practice
For Guerrero, participating in drills helps develop a kind of "muscle memory," so that certain actions can be performed faster and more easily when needed. Knowing where an emergency kit is, how to evacuate, and what to do during an earthquake are all things that can be prepared for in advance.
The initiative is part of the efforts by the CAGH and ADRA Peru to strengthen earthquake preparedness and the capacity of individuals and communities to respond to emergencies.
The original article was published on the South American Division Spanish news site.
