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Fire drill

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This article is about the safety exercise in case of emergency. For the tool, see Firestick.
Students practicing a fire drill in a smoke trailer with a firefighter assisting them. This is aimed at teaching the children proper procedures for evacuating the building in a real life fire or emergency situation

A fire drill is a method of practicing how a building would be evacuated in the event of a fire or other emergency. Usually, the building's existing fire alarm system is activated and the building is evacuated as if the emergency had occurred. Generally, the time it takes to evacuate is measured to ensure that it occurs within a reasonable length of time, and problems with the emergency system or evacuation procedures are identified to be remedied.

History of fire drills

The purpose of fire drills in schools is so that everyone in the building is aware of how to exit the building in the quickest, easiest and safest way possible if a fire, smoke, carbon monoxide or other emergency did occur and will help staff and students familiarise with the sound of the fire alarm. Fire drills were put in place[where?] after many severe fires in schools happened.

One fire that had a major impact on the foundation of the school was a fire at the private Catholic school Our Lady of the Angels in 1958, in Chicago, Illinois.[1] Children on the second floor were trapped there, with neither the teachers nor their students knowing how to get out of the building safely. Many children tried jumping out the window and many burned in the fire. The main cause of death was of being trapped in the building without an exit.[1] Although the school had passed a fire inspection two months prior, having the correct amount of fire exits and fire extinguishers for that time, it lacked smoke detectors or adequate fire alarms and was overcrowded.[1]

In order to make schools safer, education was needed on what to do during the fire. Monthly fire drills were put in place after the Our Lady of the Angels fire. It was found in a later study that education on fire also helped to prevent it. As time moved on, people started to learn more about what started fires, and what to do in the case of one happening. People were now on the lookout for fires, and now knew how to prevent them from igniting. Within a year of the fire, many of the hazardous conditions found in Our Lady of the Angels were then fixed in thousands of schools around the United States.

Other improvements in fire safety

After the fire at Our Lady of the Angel, state regulations required that there had to be fire alarm street boxes no more than one hundred feet from the front of the building. The General Assembly of Illinois also passed life safety codes in response to the fire at Our Lady of the Angel. Things such as more control over waste disposal, proper storage of combustible supplies, more frequent fire drills and inspections were put in place.[2] Other reforms from the fire include the city of Chicago modifying the Municipal Building Code of Chicago, affecting fire safety of schools as well as other buildings with two or more stories.[1] To prevent fires and deaths caused by fires, schools must have an evacuation plan in place, and make sure that all the proper fire alarms and warnings work. Teachers must take charge of the situation and be a leader. Teachers should also consider the amount of students that they have. They need enough space and time to get all of the students out quickly, and safely. Teachers should also be the ones that are looking out for causes of fires, in order to try and stop it from happening.[3]

Security improvements

In reviewing how during one shooting incident Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden a fire alarm was used, and the consideration that an alarm could distract victims and get all the occupants of the building in one place, out in the open. Nick Dial's article suggests possible improvements of a color-coded drill along with other remarks about school security.[4]

Fire drill regulations

Many jurisdictions require that fire drills be conducted at certain intervals. This is most often the case in elementary, middle, and high schools as well as most colleges and universities, but sometimes other places as well. Often the frequency of such drills and any special actions that must be taken during such drills are listed in the statute.

United States

In the United States, school fire drill regulations are set by individual states.

Some states require that schools conduct a fire drill once per month:

3

Some states require that schools conduct a specific number of drills over the course of the entire school year, or that a certain number of drills must be conducted within a certain period of time:

3

Some states specify a greater frequency of fire drills at the beginning of the school year:

3

Until regulations changed on November 1, 2010, New Jersey was unique in its requirement that schools conduct two fire drills per month.[42] Under more recent requirements, one of the two fire drills was replaced by a monthly security drill.[17]

United Kingdom

The Government of the United Kingdom requires that all schools, colleges and universities and any other education establishment perform a fire drill at the start of the new academic year in September.[43] and recommends that one should occur every term. According to the latest UK fire regulations, places such as public residencies or small buildings should have a fire alarm warning device such as a bell or a sounder installed in every room. Plus regularly health and safety checks such as testing the fire alarms and fire extinguishers should be performed weekly.[44] According to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all workplaces must have an emergency plan consisting of staff actions, evacuation plans and arrangements for contacting the fire brigade.[45]

New Zealand

The New Zealand Fire Service requires all schools and educational facilities to carry out a fire drill (termed a trial evacuation) at least once every six months, unless a shorter period is specified in the school's approved evacuation scheme. Schools need to give the Fire Service 7-10 working days' notice before a fire drill is planned, and must submit a report to the Fire Service within 7-10 working days of the drill; an unplanned alarm activation does not count as a fire drill.[46]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fire drill.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Cunningham, Thomas (n.d.). "Our Lady of the Angels: A Historical Perspective on School Fires". WithTheCommand.com. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  2. ^ Teague, Paul. "Case Histories: Fires Influencing the Life Safety Code" (PDF). nfpa.org. Retrieved 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ National Fire Protection Association. "Fire Drills at School". nfpa.org. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Dial, Nick (November 26, 2013). "School Safety: Serious Proposals for Effective Security". Law Enforcement Today. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  5. ^ Code of Alabama, § 36-19-10, Regulation of fire drills and doors and exits in schools, factories, hospitals, etc.
  6. ^ Arkansas Code, § 12-13-109. Fire drills.
  7. ^ a b "School Emergency Preparedness Plan - Section 8". Web.archive.org. 2004-11-20. Archived from the original on 2004-11-20. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  8. ^ [1] Archived March 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ a b "Standards for Principals and Assistant Principals" (DOC (computing)). District of Columbia Public Schools. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  10. ^ a b c "Site Based Manager Fall Back and Regroup". Florida Department of Education. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  11. ^ Thursday, July 23, 20095:29 am. "City of Alpharetta Website || Statewide Severe Weather Drill Set For Wednesday, February 22". Alpharetta.ga.us. Retrieved 2009-07-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Kansas DOE Education Statute #: 31-133". Kansas DOE. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  13. ^ "State Regulation of Private Schools - Nebraska". Ed.gov. 2000-01-01. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  14. ^ "Nevada Revised Statutes §392.450". Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  15. ^ "Nevada Revised Statutes §394.170". Retrieved 2007-08-05.
  16. ^ "Fire Code Issues in Educational Occupancies" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  17. ^ a b "New Jersey Principals And Supervisors Association — Membership News". Njpsa.org. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  18. ^ "GS 115C-288". Ncga.state.nc.us. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  19. ^ a b "Bills try at header" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-23. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ 24J Risk Management Operations Manual Archived January 19, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ PDE. "Pre K-12 Schools: Fire Drills and School Bus Evacuations". Pde.state.pa.us. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  22. ^ a b Rhode Island General Laws, Title 16, § 16-21-4
  23. ^ "Chapter 07-234". Rilin.state.ri.us. 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  24. ^ a b c "Fire Drill Requirements". Davis School District. Archived from the original on March 19, 2005. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  25. ^ a b "School Fire Exit Drill Safety Report" (PDF). Office of the State Fire Marshal. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
  26. ^ Fire Drills in Wisconsin Schools: an Opportunity for Excellence, John Andersen, Wisconsin Department of Commerce Newsletter, November 2003
  27. ^ "Arizona School Emergency Response Plan Minimum Requirements Checklist" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  28. ^ "§12-45.1-99 w/Amendment" (PDF). Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 12, Subtitle 7, Chapter 45-1. Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. p. 32. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
  29. ^ Governor Blagojevich signs new law to make schools safer, Office of the Governor, State of Illinois, August 16, 2005
  30. ^ https://www.legis.iowa.gov/DOCS/ACO/IC/LINC/2013.Section.100.31.PDF. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. ^ a b "E - Business Management". Cpsb.org. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  32. ^ a b Yarmouth School District. "Yarmouth School District - E - Support Services". District.yarmouth.k12.me.us. Retrieved 2009-07-23.
  33. ^ Maryland An. Code 1957, art. 77, § 91; 1978, ch. 22, § 2; 1996, ch. 10, § 16.
  34. ^ School Fire Drills, Stephen D. Coan, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, June 27, 2001
  35. ^ Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 29, Act 207 of 1941, Section 29.19
  36. ^ "Minnesota Statutes 299F.30: Fire drill in schools; doors and exits". 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  37. ^ "Montana Code Annotated 20-1-402". 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  38. ^ Subsection M of 6.30.2.10 of the New Mexico Administrative Code
  39. ^ "FireDrillFreq_120309". Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  40. ^ "ARTICLE IV: SAFETY". Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  41. ^ a b Code of Virginia, § 22.1-137
  42. ^ New Jersey Permanent Statutes, § 18A:41-1
  43. ^ "Fire safety in the workplace". Diect Gov. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  44. ^ "Fire safety in the workplace". Direct Gov. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  45. ^ "DfES | Teachernet | Emergencies". Teachernet. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  46. ^ "Guide to evacuation schemes December 2014". New Zealand Fire Service. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
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