Every 30 seconds there is an earthquake. But don't worry because most are so weak that they cannot be felt. Only a few big ones hurt people. Many earthquakes happened in China, such as the big one in Sichuan. Thousands of people died in it. So it's important to know what to do when one hits. Here are some tips on how to stay safe in an earthquake.

   a. If you are indoors during an earthquake, hide under a desk. Stay away from windows and anything that could fall on you.

   b. If you are outdoors, move to a clear place. Try to be away from trees, signs, buildings and streetlights. These could fall on you.

   c. If you are in a shop and far from the door, don't try to run outside and rush for exits (出口). Everyone will be doing that and you'll find it hard getting out. Don't get into a lift during an earthquake. Just hide under some strong cover near you.

   d. When an earthquake has ended, be careful because aftershocks may still happen. These are just as dangerous as the earthquake itself. So stay under the desk until you make sure it's safe to get up.

   e. If you are at home and you smell gas (煤气), open the windows and get out of the building as quickly as you can. A gas line in your house may be broken. This could be very dangerous.