GOASIAPLUS October 2018

FYI
DISASTER PROOF
EVERYONE LIKES HAVING A NICE STORY TO TELL WHEN THEY
COME BACK FROM VACATION. HOWEVER, TRIPS AWAY FROM
HOME DON’T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED WHICH CAN CAUSE
MEMORIES OF THAT HOLIDAY TO BE TAINTED. UNDER SUCH
CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE ARE MORE ISSUES TO BE WORRIED
ABOUT THAN JUST RUINED MEMORIES. DISASTERS AND
CRISIS OUT OF OUR CONTROL CAN OCCUR DURING TRAVELS
AND SUCH SITUATIONS NEED TO BE HANDLED WITH CARE.
Text YY CHEN
BE PREPARED:
PACK IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS!
In a waterproof bag, keep your travel documents (passport
and cash), credit cards, printout of information for the contact
of hotel, travel agent and embassy and your personal medical
report. Try to carry an extra phone battery or power bank
as well. During an emergency, this bag can be carried along
easily. Make a copy of these documents and keep it in another
luggage in case the document pack goes missing.
EARTHQUAKES AND TSUNAMI
If you’re travelling to places that are prone to common natural
disasters like the above, you must:
Research and find the safest travel period.
Ensure that your travel insurance covers air flight, hotel and
medical evacuation.
What to do in the event of a natural disaster:
Go to designated safe area in the hotel or go to a corner in your
room and huddle with hands or a pillow braced over your head.
If trapped, don’t light a match as there may be gas leakage or
trapped pressure. This may cause an explosion. Cover mouth
and nose from dust.
If building is not damaged, grab your document pack and walk
quickly to an open area and listen for warning alarms and
natural warnings too (a tsunami sounds like the roaring noise
of a fast train).
If you’re near a beach and suddenly notice people running away
from the beach, follow suit and head to any concrete buildings
and get to the second floor.
Arrange to leave the area as soon as possible.
Text your family or use social media to communicate that you
are alright.
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