As soon as an earthquake starts and you feel strong shaking, there are many actions commonly taken that are the result of instinct and quick thinking. Sadly, many of these preconceived notions are not necessarily the safest or ideal actions to take. What this means is that it is important to learn the best actions to take under peaceful and safe conditions so that way when the danger starts your instincts have already been trained to make the safest decision.

One example of a common myth, or instinct of many, is to run outside as soon as the shaking starts and head to the nearest open area, such as a field. Without much thought, this may make sense, but it is important to understand why the exact opposite needs to take place. As the shaking starts and becomes more violent, things like power lines, bricks, or other chunks of a building can fall on you as you are heading away from the building. When the earthquake begins, what you should train yourself to think is: "What is the safest spot in the room I am in?" This simple tactic is likely to save you much harm in the event of an earthquake.