Each fire drill must have a goal, regardless of what it is.
Fire drills are prevalent occurrences in schools since they usually happen near the beginning of the year. Then, they’ll happen several times throughout the year. This way, teachers, students, and staff will know what to do when a real fire starts. In addition, fire drills are just as important in commercial environments. Here’s how to plan and practice your fire drill and get your employees out safely.
The Goal of Fire Drills
Each fire drill must have a goal, regardless of what it is. It’s vital for every business to have responsible leaders who will demonstrate to their team members what the procedure for a fire is. Also, you’ll never know when someone will pull the fire alarm as a prank or burn toast in the next office and trigger the alarm to sound for the whole building.
In addition, the first drill could show everyone how to reach the exits quickly and how far away they must gather and wait until the all-clear is given to re-enter the building. Subsequent fire drills can enhance evacuation times.
Planning a Fire Drill
To plan and practice your fire drill, ensure all equipment may be left alone for several minutes. That way, they don’t accidentally provoke a real fire on accident. Additionally, select a few employees and name them as the fire wardens for the month. In this role, they will be observers for the next fire drill. They can measure if any improvement is occurring, but you’ll need to train them promptly to do this. Remember to notify any visitors know that a fire drill will happen. Although some fire drills should be unscheduled, you don’t want to alarm anyone unnecessarily.
The Next Step
Once you have chosen a date for the next fire drill, assign someone in the planning meeting as the fire drill leader. They will show everyone where to go and what to do to escape the property. They will also be in charge of ensuring everyone makes it outside your property safely. Most importantly, the leader and wardens must work together during the frill drill.
Moreover, they can both inspect any exit doors (mainly if they are fire doors) that are not opening smoothly. They may also note how to help others with limited mobility and inspect if anyone does anything they shouldn’t, like collecting personal effects before leaving.
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480.