'What’d you do in a burning building?' poll results/discussion

bilbobaggins

With something of a relevant background, and having participated in those 'public building fire practice' nonsenses, I offer these thoughts to those who also may have responsibility for Fire Safety Briefings to a group.

"Should we hear a fire alarm, none of us - including me - will know whether it's real or a no-notice practice. So we'll treat any alarm as the real thing. I have to check that everyone is out of this room, so I'm last, and you need to know how to get out of the building safely.

I'll tell you now, and we'll walk through that in a minute.....

( 'You leave by this exit here, go left along the corridor to the first stairwell, then..........')

HOW you do this can mean the difference between survival and not. The very best way is as a group, holding tightly together, and controlled.

As you leave this room, pair up and lock arms together with the person beside you. March as a group, in pairs close up together, along the corridor to the stairwell and - still all together - down the stairs.

Hold onto the handrails, left and right, with your free hands. That way, others can't barge past and knock you over.

If one of you stumbles, the other can hold you from falling, causing a blockage, and being trampled - the main means of injury and worse in such situations.

Once out of the building, go to the Safe Assembly Point, which I'll show you. I'll join you there. Stay there together until someone in authority - like a fire officer - tells you otherwise."