Fire evacuation - best practice

At Veteran Fire Safety, we offer full fire marshal training that includes safe evacuation from buildings. In this blog, we want to discuss some of the most important aspects of safe evacuation, and explain how our training can help to keep your workplace safe.

Take the Stairs

You might have heard before that you should never use the lift during a fire, even if you think it is the fastest way out of the building. If the lift loses power, you can easily be trapped, and you cannot predict what the floor you are travelling to will look like – the doors may open to stifling fire and smoke. Provision should be made for those who cannot take the stairs (for example, an evacuation chair), but if at all possible, use stairs to exit the building safely and quickly.

Get Out and Stay Out

In a fire situation, whether it's a drill or an actual fire, your top priority should be to exit the building as quickly as possible. Avoid detours or going back for belongings, regardless of their cost or sentimental importance. Fires are unpredictable, making it hard to assess the extent of structural damage or dangerous fumes around you. Spending precious seconds on retrieving your laptop or cherished desk ornament could result in serious harm. Remain at the fire assembly point and wait for instructions from the fire leader or marshal.

Practice Makes Perfect!

Please take fire drills seriously! We understand that disrupting your workday for a drill is not ideal, especially in bad weather when you're gathering in the parking lot, but knowing escape routes is crucial for saving lives. At Veteran Fire Safety, our training can include specific evacuation procedures tailored to your type of business, whether it's a school, hotel, or factory. For more information on our training courses, you can contact us here.