Structural Collapse & Entrapment

How civilians can safely assist rescue efforts after a building collapse — including light rescue techniques, triage principles, survivor management, and when to wait for professional teams.

How to assess whether a building or structure poses a collapse risk — including signs of structural distress, post-earthquake inspection, and when to evacuate versus re-enter.

How to survive a building collapse — immediate actions, survival spaces, self-rescue principles, and what to do while waiting for rescue teams to arrive.

How to effectively signal your location to rescue teams when trapped in a building collapse, mine, vehicle, or other confined situation — including sound, light, and electronic methods.

If you are trapped under rubble, what you do in the first minutes determines whether rescuers find you alive — create breathing space, signal, conserve energy.