Q&A for How to Act During a Fire Drill

If possible, find a window or another way to exit the room. If that's not an option, make noise to alert others or try to break down the door, but first, check if the doorknob is hot, as this indicates fire on the other side.

Schools turn off lights during a fire drill to simulate a power outage and encourage students to practice evacuating in low visibility. Firefighters typically have helmet-mounted lights to help them see in dark or smoky conditions.

If you're trapped, stay near a window and use anything visible to signal for help. Shout for help or wave a brightly colored object to attract attention.

Find the nearest exit. Evacuate with everyone quietly, and don't panic. Fire drill procedure differs, but I would advise asking everyone to remain calm and quiet. Please remember to wait for the all-clear, and then re-enter. If your clients are scared, comfort them and tell them this is only a practice drill. If it is not, follow the instructions above and try to keep your cool.

If you're bathing during a fire drill, prioritize your safety by quickly dressing and exiting the building promptly.

Do not stop to close the windows if they are open. Instead, exit the building as fast as you can.

Get out of the bathtub, quickly cover yourself and get out of the building as soon as possible. Do not take time to dry off.

Yes, if there is a real fire, it is advisable to turn off the electricity.

Walking helps maintain order and reduces the risk of tripping or causing chaos. It's more efficient for evacuation when everyone moves calmly, and you should only consider running if the fire is imminent and extremely close.

Yes, this is advisable for a drill to prevent delays. The school could also consider scheduling drills in the middle of class periods to minimize disruptions.

No, you should treat a fire drill like a real fire and prioritize your safety over personal belongings like a backpack or phone.

Face the building so that you can see any orders from the fire department and so you can see what is happening.

You cannot turn off the fire alarm unless you are authorized personnel.

You or you and another person will have to carry them.

During a fire drill, prioritize your safety and evacuate immediately, leaving personal belongings behind. Your insurance company can assist in replacing items if necessary.

It depends on the structure. In a house fire, for example, you only have a few minutes to get out. In a mid-rise apartment fire, you may have even longer. And in a high-rise fire, you may have sufficient time to get out.

No. During a real emergency, the fire doors are used to contain smoke and heat and allow for a safe evacuation for everyone. Most injuries and deaths resulting from a fire are due to smoke inhalation. Keeping these doors closed allows for people to evacuate without smoke impeding their path.

If you have limited mobility, wait inside the stairwell or near the appropriate "area of rescue assistance". An evacuation chair is able to get these people down quickly and safely.

No. You risk causing serious injury or creating a stampede. Stampedes can seriously injure or kill a lot of people since individuals end up crushed under the weight of others. The best approach is to remain calm and to carefully walk to the meeting point.

You should not run, use the elevators, tamper with fire protection equipment, or leave your building keys behind.

A fire drill is an emergency exercise used to evaluate the effectiveness of an evacuation plan. During a fire drill, the alarm is activated, and certain safety systems, like fire doors and elevator recalls, are engaged. Occupants practice either a full evacuation or a partial one, depending on the scenario, to ensure they understand when to evacuate and when to stay put.

The safest way to extinguish a fire is by using a fire extinguisher. If the fire is in its initial or smoldering stage, use the PASS method: pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever, and sweep the hose from side to side. Do not use a fire extinguisher if the fire is too large to control.

Being quiet is important, since the teachers will tell you the directions on how to escape and where everyone will stay at during the fire. You could get lost or not know what to do in the building if you talk loudly/not listen to directions.

You could risk injury if you dash out of the building during a fire drill. Instead, leave the building in a calm but quick manner.

Yes, students should face away from a burning building to help prevent injuries in the event of an explosion.

During a fire drill, you should listen to your teacher or fire warden, exit the building calmly and swiftly, and remain quiet. Avoid jostling, shouting, or causing a disturbance; simply leave in an orderly fashion.

If you hear a fire alarm while in bed, get up immediately and assess the situation. If you can safely do so, try to locate the source of the alarm. If it's a small fire and you have a fire extinguisher, you may attempt to put it out. However, if the fire is too large, evacuate the building immediately, alert others, and call the fire department.

In a workplace, the fire warden typically takes charge during a fire drill. In a school, the principal usually leads the drill.

Yes, if you are the only person in the building and a real fire happens, escape as quickly as you can from the school and immediately call the fire department.

Running during a fire evacuation can cause injury and confusion. Therefore, to maintain calm and order, it is much safer to walk during a fire evacuation.