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 The sad events in Haiti have brought out the best in people. Unfortunately, they have also brought out the worst. Earlier we heard about scams where criminals are trying to rip off people who just want to help the victims. In addition to all this, some people have started to circulate (once again) misinformation about earthquake response. I am referring to the so-called 'Triangle of Life'.
It would be an understatement to say that the science behind it was questionable or that the author was controversial. If you search the web for 'triangle of life' and 'myth' you will find a number of articles - many of respectable sources like the Red Cross, CalEMA, and even some fgrom former supporters of the author - that debunk the claims made by its author. Let us be clear: the only recommended response to an earthquake is "Drop, Cover and Hold On". This is what the emergency services teach us, this is what FEMA teaches us, this is what CERT teaches us, this is what the Red Cross teaches us. Anything else will expose you to serious injuries, potentially death. The Triangle of Life hoax has been circulating at least since 2004. It usually appears in an email which is supposedly coming from the author and makes claims about the expertise of they author ("participated in every major rescue"), hints at a conspiracy behind Drop, Cover & Hold, and promises the impossible ("100% of deaths" avoidable). In the next couple of months you will probably meet people who have heard of the triangle of life and believe it to be true. Please refer them to the vast information online that has debunked the triangle and the articles that contradict the claims of its author. You can start with: And if someone approaches you with a wquation about this triangle of lif hoax, please tell them what you found. It might save their life. Seriously: the misinformation in this concept is potentially deadly... Wondering about the details of the hoax. Here is a link to an Acrobat file that has the current version...
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California CERT News 
