Disaster Prevention Day

1st Sept is the 'Disaster Prevention Day' in japan. This day is established to mark the Great Kanto Earthquake that happened in 1923. This day is to remind everyone to take precautions to natural disasters like earthquake and typhoons. Since Hong Kong don't have earthquakes, sensing the little shakes from time to time actually frightens me sometimes. That's why I do have a bag packed under my bed with water and emergency food. A lot of supermarkets will have a corner selling preserved can biscuits and packs of water so as to remind you to check on the due date of the things you have prepared before. Unfortunately, not a lot of people takes precautions... they always have a way of thinking that it won't happen to them. But luckily, at least the radios kept talking about natural disasters for the whole day, encouraging people to be more concern. Here are some tips I learned today, hope if will be useful to you too! (but better that you won't need to use it...)

- When an earthquake occurs and you are having the kettle on. Don't go and try to switch off the fire or leave the house, first of all find a safe place that objects won't fall over on you until the quakes stops. Trying to turn off the fire might cause burns from the fire or hot water instead. And leaving the house might cause big objects to fall on you.

- If you are stuck in a car in a sudden flood, stay calm and don't try opening the door. The pressure outside is bigger then inside the car where you won't be able to open it and in the other hand you will use up all your strength and you may panic more. Wait until the water is about your height, the pressure will change and you shall be able to open the door of the car.

- When earthquakes occurs, pay phones are easier to connect than mobile phones.

- If you have a pet with you, and you running away from objects falling over you. Be careful that you don't crush your pet while grabbing hold on her. A lot of pets died because of that, while you are panicking, you may not be good at controlling your strength. The best is to have a carry bag ready with your emergency goods.

Hope these tips can be useful to someone when it is in need. Of course, the best is to bless everyone to be safe and sound.