Quake! Quake! Triangle of Life ? No. Drop, Cover and Hold on ?

kryptos — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 11:48:54 -0800

Doug Copp advocates finding a Triangle of Life and gives up to 10 tips for an earthquake situation that will ensure maximum survival of the people involved. But his findings and tips has been discredited by the American Red Cross (ARC) who sees it as challenge to their "Drop, Cover and Hold On" safety advice as applied to its use in USA. It said that buildings in the States are constructed to a higher standard which makes the DC&HO method , the one to use. I would have thought if the standards are all that stringent , finding a triangle of life would be much easier and ensure a greater survival quotient in the States, if it was the drilled into the students. They say that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On!" is NOT wrong -- in the United States. and also say that The Red Cross is not saying that identifying potential voids is wrong or inappropriate. But the ARC said DC&HO is the simplest, reliable, and easiest method to teach people, including children. By this , do they mean that it will take more effort and more drills to get children and others to act in a manner counter-intuitive to a DC&HO. And that would equate to more money that needs to be spent ?

The ToL advocated does not seem to be a hoax but yet has found its way onto the snopes.com website that does a good job investigating urban legends and hoaxes and scams. And there was mention there of various cases and accusations against Mr Copp.

By the way, FEMA stands by the ARC. Are their advice carved in stone? After the dismal performance of these two organisations, post-Katrina, I cannot help but feel less confidence in what they have to say and do.

Leaving aside, Mr Copp's personal agenda if any, and the personal problems that Mr Copp will have to resolve himself, his ToL seems to make a lot of sense to me. AMC and FEMA too may have their own agenda. Does it cost more money and drill time to instill into children that they have to do something counter-intuitive to their natural survival instincts ? I would imagine so! Could that be the reason then for discrediting Mr Copp. Couldn't a better survival protocol be drawn up incorporating the best of both, with what i would imagine greater empasis on Mr Copp's method. Yes, my bias is towards ToL.

Sorry for the rather longish preamble to a question but here it comes.
My question to Ask Metafilter:

What to do? I have confused friends in LA with school-going children wanting to know . They want to talk to teachers as to what is best. Are there are other groups with no agendas, hidden or other-wise, who could help answer this? What do guys think ?

Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with dougcoop

Quake! Quake! Triangle of Life ? No. Drop, Cover and Hold on ?