NCJ Number
199319
Journal
Campus Safety Journal Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2003 Pages: 16-18
Date Published
March 2003
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article recommends ways to implement effective and safe fire drills at schools.
Abstract
Fire drills should be conducted at all times of the day, since fires do not always happen at a convenient time; they are unpredictable. Use multiple exits by positioning the principal or other representatives to turn away teachers and students from the closest exit so that they will become familiar with using a secondary means of exit in an actual emergency. At least once a year, early in the school season, schedule a fire drill during lunch, since this is the most confusing time of day in a school because there is less supervision of students. Do not announce fire drills. Make sure that as few people as possible know that a drill is scheduled, because fires happen without warning, and being pre-warned about a drill will lower the level of anxiety and leave the staff unprepared to operate in a moderately stressful situation. Review evacuation plans, since they may be outdated. Routes should be away from emergency roadways. Firefighters in full gear should be introduced to younger students yearly, so as to reduce their fear of contact with them. School staff should be instructed in how to extinguish a minor fire, use an alternative means of exit, evacuate upper floors, handle special student populations during evacuations, and deal with minor injuries and administer CPR.