Evacuation Knowledge: Minimizing Damage in the Event of an Explosion

The Tianjin explosion has shocked many people and has dominated social media and the news today, causing many to lose sleep. In addition to offering prayers and donating blood, it is important to be aware of some evacuation knowledge in the event of an explosion, in order to minimize the damage caused by the disaster. A sudden explosion can catch people off guard, as it is impossible to predict the destructive power of the explosion. The shockwave, high temperature, and debris produced by the explosion can all be potentially lethal. In a life-threatening situation, your experience and instant reactions will determine your fate.

Immediately evacuate from the explosion site

It is crucial to "run as fast as you can" and escape from the explosion site without hesitation. Questions like "What happened?" or "What exploded?" can wait until you are safe. In such complex and unpredictable situations, a mere one meter of distance can determine life or death.

Lower your body and shield vital areas

While ensuring you can run quickly, try to lower your body as much as possible, even just bowing your head can be effective. In an explosion that occurs on the ground, the fragments produced by the shockwave generally spread in a fan shape, similar to bullets. Lowering your body is mainly to avoid these fragments. According to reports, in previous explosion cases abroad, most survivors adopted a posture of lowering their heads and bodies, using personal belongings to shield vital areas such as the head and abdomen, even if it's just a bag, it can still be effective.

If you can't escape immediately

If your current physical condition and environment do not allow you to escape, quickly turn your back towards the direction of the air disturbance, lie down with your head down, cover your mouth and nose with fabric, and cover your body with clothing. Expose as little skin as possible. Try to hold your breath to prevent inhaling a large amount of explosive dust.

When you smell a scent

Almost all explosions produce a strong smell, which is the smell of burning. However, if it is a gas explosion or a chemical explosion, it may also release toxic gases. Gas is a smell we can easily recognize. In addition to not igniting an open flame, also avoid using your phone in areas with a strong odor. Move away before making a phone call for help. The average person's ability to identify chemicals is poor, so even if you don't smell anything, there may still be a life-threatening danger. The methods for extinguishing different chemicals are different, and chemical fires should be handled by professional rescue personnel. Do not take action blindly on your own.

Evacuating from a contaminated area

If the explosion causes contamination, there are some basic principles to follow when evacuating. First, evacuate in the upwind direction and avoid running towards the downwind direction. Therefore, you may need to choose a route with a hard surface and no dust against the wind. After evacuating, quickly remove any clothing exposed to the contaminated environment. If you want to disinfect exposed skin, you should seek professional help, as the cleaning methods for different contaminants are also different.