Triangle of Life

The Triangle of Life is a method of earthquake safety recommended by self-proclaimed urban search and rescue expert Doug Copp. It is a highly contested theory meant to replace the traditional "drop, cover, and hold on" tactic. The idea of the method is for occupants of buildings that experience an earthquake to seek shelter near solid items that would prevent injury in case of a "pancake collapse" of structure. This kind of collapse is, however, rare in western societies and opponents argue that the drop, cover and hold on tactic will prevent the vast majority of injuries which occur in the more frequent kinds of structural damage.

Testing

In 1996, Doug Copp made a film to prove this methodology. He recreated a model school and home, filling them with 20 mannequins. He collapsed the buildings with half the mannequins in 'duck and cover' position and the others in what Copp calls the triangle of life' position. When buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside somewhat crushes them, but the height of the object that remains acts as a kind of roof beam to the space or void next to it, which will tend to end up with a sloping roof over it. This space for survival Copp terms the triangle of life. The larger and stronger the object, the less it will compact. The less it compacts, the larger the void next to it will be. Such triangles are the most common shape to be found in a collapsed building. When Copp and his crew re-entered the simulated earthquake scenario after the blast, they calculated that there would have been zero percent survival for the mannequins in 'duck and cover' position as against 100 per cent survival for those hiding in the triangles beside solid objects. Copp is categorical about the importance of this technique: Everyone who simply ducks and covers when buildings collapse is crushed to death - every time without exception. However, according to the scientific community, Copp's statement may even when interpreted most liberally only be considered for pancake-type collapses which are rare in the developed world.

External links

• AmerRescue.org Official Triangle of Life website.
• EarthquakeCountry.info Earthquake Country Alliance's response to the 'Triangle of Life'.
• BPAonline.org Response from the American Red Cross.
  • American Red Cross earthquake preparedness advice.
• Kahl.net Triangle of life compared to Drop, cover & hold.