Kids give the word on quake survival

Children from Mt Roskill and Mt Eden Primary Schools practise the 'drop, cover and hold' technique. Photo / Steven McNicholl

"Drop, cover and hold" - those are the words to remember to help survive an earthquake.

Civil Defence has released its new campaign, "Kids Know Best", to teach New Zealanders the safest actions when an earthquake strikes.

After the Canterbury quakes, there was confusion about the best course of action.

Civil Defence hopes "drop, cover and hold" will spread the right message in the same way as the fire safety slogan "stop, drop and roll" .

Children from Mt Roskill and Mt Eden Primary Schools joined actor and Civil Defence frontman Peter Elliott for the new ads.

Yesterday, about 400 children demonstrated the moves at Mt Roskill Primary. Mr Elliott said the children were "delightful" to work with.

"They never lost patience."

He said the campaign did not want to cause discomfort to the people of Christchurch, but wanted to impart the important information.

"The earthquake devastated so many people's lives so it's a serious message."

The campaign is also promoting New Zealand Shake Out - which aims to involve one million people nationwide in an earthquake drill.

The New Zealand Shake Out will be at 9.26am on September 26.

ON THE WEB: www.civildefence.govt.nz