In the article “After an earthquake, how long can trapped victims survive?” ABC News interviewed emergency response experts, including GW Engineering’s Joseph Barbera, regarding key factors affecting the survival of trapped victims. This piece comes as rescue teams work to find survivors of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar last Friday.
Here is an excerpt from the article: “If fire, smoke or hazardous chemicals were released as a result of the building collapse, they may decrease a person’s survival odds, said emergency response expert Dr. Joseph Barbera, an associate professor at Geroge Washington University. Beyond that, having air to breathe and water to drink are crucial as the days go on. “You could survive a while without food,” Barbera said. “You could survive less without water.”
Read the full article on ABC News.