Children wear fire-proof hoods before they are evacuated from their classroom at a Tokyo elementary school as part of a nationwide earthquake drill.

Picture: REUTERS

SIBU - Borneo: Children of Methodist Children’s Home Kindergarten yesterday experienced first hand ways to put out a  building fire.

 Principal Wong Choon Eng said the fire-fighting drill was to increase understanding of fire safety among children.

“We need frequent fire drills so that children would know the procedure when there is a fire,” she said.

She said teachers too would benefit from such drills.

Meanwhile, a fire safety officer said it was a rare occasion to be invited for fire safety campaign for a kindergarten.

He praised the kindergarten for the effort to create awareness of fire safety among small children.

“Children really need exposure on this. When there is a fire they won’t panic,” he said.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/03/12/first-fire-drill-for-kinder...

Here in the United States, we have unique drills compared to the rest of the world. 

Bloomington, MN - In a tornado drill our Director or Assistant Director walk down the hallway with an air horn.  Teachers gather the children together and go to the basement of the church. Classroom staff calmly lead the children downstairs  and also bring along their emergency back pack – cell phone – attendance list and flashlight.  The children are told to “sit like a turtle.” Once all has been checked out the children are walked back to their classrooms or previous activity.

So... How do you get involved with your local schools?

• When preplanning target hazards, consider making contact with the school administration and ask them if they have fire drill instructions or a plan that you can review. This is your chance to provide education and ensure that this type of training is provided. The head of the school should be able to tell you where children and staff should meet outside during the drill. If you don't have a pre-plan map that shows the evacuation routes and staging area, request a copy. There may also be certain materials you may suggest school teachers to bring during the fire drill, such as attendance lists and parent contact information. This is the type of information that you can suggest the school has on hand in the event of an emergency.

• Student attendance sheets should be always kept in a spot near the door. Preschoolers will require help lining up and staying calm during the drill, so teachers won't have time to gather up attendance sheets or other forms. This is why it is important to keep the students attendance sheet posted on the wall near the door. You can also suggest that they tape a folder next to the attendance sheet and keep copies of any other paperwork you'll need inside. You can quickly grab these things on the way out the door. 
• All classrooms should have the map of the route they will walk during a drill, all the way to the designated outdoor meeting spot, or as we call it, "staging area". Classrooms need to have a copy up high where teachers can easily consult it. The school can also make a large, colorful version to hang low on the wall for children to see. Since preschoolers generally can't read maps, post photos on the map as well. Tape a photo of the classroom and a photo of the meeting spot over the corresponding points on the map. Pictures say a thousand words.
• Teachers can talk to the children about what will happen during a fire drill. Explain that these drills are just practice, but they are very important and must be taken seriously. Teachers can show children where in the room they will line up when the alarm sounds and explain that they must be completely quiet during a drill so that everyone can hear the instructions that you will give.

• Play a recording of a fire alarm sound. The loud, high-pitched sound of the alarm will scare young children who haven't heard it before. Giving children some advance notice of what it sounds like may help them stay calm during an actual drill.
• Do a pretend drill. For the first drill, teachers can tell the children that you're doing a drill. Play the recording of the alarm sound, have children line up quietly and walk in a single file line outside to your meeting spot. Once children have done one successful drill, explain that you'll do it again sometime soon, but without warning this time. Do another pretend drill later in the week. You'll be ready when your school holds its first official fire drill.

Suggested Information to Share with the School Administration, Faculty and Staff:

Teaching the Classes of Fire (Suggested Verbiage)

When selecting a fire extinguisher to use, it is also important to think about how the extinguishing agent inside it will affect a fire.

Each class of fire is best fought by a specific extinguishing agent. Listed below are different classes of fire as well as the extinguisher type and location within your school.

ABC Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers are used on:

• Class A Ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth, paper, and many plastics.
• Class B Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease, oil-based paint, and lacquer.
• Class C Energized electrical equipment such as wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, and appliances.

BC Fire extinguishers are used on:

• Class B Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease, oil-based paint, and lacquer.
• Class C Energized electrical equipment such as wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, and appliances.

CO2 Fire extinguishers are used on:

• Class B Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease, oil-based paint, and lacquer.
• Class C Energized electrical equipment such as wiring, fuse boxes, circuit breakers, and appliances.

Teaching How To Use A Fire Extinguisher (PASS)

P

• Pull the pin.

• This unlocks the handle to press and

discharge the extinguisher.

A

• Aim low.

• Point the extinguisher's nozzle at the

base of the fire.

S

• Squeeze the lever.

• Keep squeezing the handle to continue

discharging agent.

S

• Sweep side to side.

•While keeping the extinguisher aimed at

the base of the fire, carefully approach

it sweeping back and forth until the

flames are out.

Hazardous Materials Labeling Awareness:

NFPA 704 Hazard Identification Diamond Reference Information

Note: Schools do catch on fire...

Finally, if your department does not have a written plan, discussing the fire prevention aspects of Fire Drills as well as other evacuation and group egress issues, it does not make sense to reinvent the wheel.

You want to pick someplace that has to deal with a lot of people, and in the event of an emergency, have a reliable, demonstrated emergency plan. What better place than Las Vegas? This is great information thanks to the Las Vegas Fire Department Fire Prevention Bureau. Before reviewing or possibly developing your departments approach and priorities for making the children's environment safer, review the following to get additional ideas.

When it comes to large scale evacuation and fire alarms, Las Vegas pretty much rules.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Fire Prevention Division Information Sheet

 Effective Date: February 1, 2011 CLV Ordinance #6124 

The items listed are basic information only. Codes are subject to change. Additional requirements may apply. 

Fire Drills for Educational Occupancies 

An approved fire safety and evacuation plan shall be prepared and maintained for educational occupancies. IFC 404.2 

Fire evacuation plans shall include IFC 404.3.1 

 Emergency egress or escape routes 

 Procedures for employees who must remain to operate critical equipment before evacuating 

 Procedures for assisted rescue for persons unable to use the general means of egress unassisted 

 Procedures for accounting for employees and occupants after evacuation has been completed 

 Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for rescue or emergency medical aid 

 The preferred and any alternative means of notifying the occupants of a fire or an emergency 

 The preferred and any alternative means of reporting fires and other emergencies to the fire department 

 Identification and assignment of personnel who can be contacted for further information 

Fire safety plans shall include IFC 404.3.2 

 The procedure for reporting a fire or other emergency 

 The procedures for notifying, relocating or evacuating occupants, including those who need assistance 

 Site plans that show the assembly point, location of fire hydrants and the route of fire department vehicle access 

 Floor plans that show 

o Exits 

o Primary evacuation routes 

o Secondary evacuation routes 

o Accessible egress routes 

o Areas of refuge 

o Exterior areas for assisted rescue 

o Manual fire alarm boxes 

o Portable fire extinguishers 

o Occupant-use hose stations 

o Fire alarm annunciators and controls 

 A list of major fire hazards associated with the normal use of the premises 

 Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance of systems and equipment installed to prevent or control fires 

 Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance, housekeeping and controlling fuel hazard sources 

Where facilities develop a lockdown plan, the lockdown plan shall be in accordance with the IFC sections 404.3.3.3 through 404.3.3.3. IFC 404.3.3 

Lockdown plans shall be approved by the fire code official and shall include the following IFC404.3.3.1 

 Instructions for reporting an emergency that requires a lockdown 

 Accountability procedures for staff to report the presence or absence of occupants 

 A prearranged signal for returning to normal activity 

 An approved means of two-way communication between a central location and each secured area 

The training frequency shall be included in the lockdown plan. The lockdown drills shall not substitute for any of the required fire and evacuation drills. IFC 404.3.3.2 

The method of notifying building occupants of a lockdown shall be included in the plan. The method of notification shall be separate and distinct from the fire alarm signal. IFC 404.3.3.3 

Fire Safety and evacuation plans shall be reviewed or updated annually or as needed by changes in staff assignments. IFC 404.4 

Emergency evacuation drills shall be conducted at least monthly. IFC table 405.2 

 For R-2 occupancies at least four drills shall be conducted annually 

The first emergency evacuation drill of each school year shall be conducted within 10 days of the beginning of classes. IFC408.3.1 

The fire code official shall have the authority to modify the emergency evacuation drill frequency. IFC408.3.2 

Participation shall be by all occupants. IFC table 405.2 

Drills shall be held at unexpected times and under varying conditions to simulate the unusual conditions that occur in case of fire. IFC 405.4 

Emergency evacuation drills shall be conducted at different hours of the day or evening during the changing of classes, when the school is at assembly, during the recess or gymnastic periods, or during other times to avoid distinction between drills and actual fires. IFC 408.3.3 

Outdoor assembly areas shall be designated and shall be located a safe distance from the building being evacuated so as to avoid interference with fire department operations. The assembly areas shall be arranged to keep each class separate to provide accountability of all individuals. IFC 408.3.4 

Records shall be maintained of required emergency evacuation drills and include the following information: IFC 405.5 

 Identity of the person conducting the drill 

 Date and time of the drill 

 Notification method used 

 Staff members on duty and participating 

 Number of occupants evacuated 

 Special conditions simulated 

 Problems encountered 

 Weather conditions when occupants were evacuated 

 Time required to accomplish complete evacuation 

Where a fire alarm system is provided, emergency evacuation drills shall be initiated by activating the fire alarm system. IFC 405.7 

As building occupants arrive at the assembly point, efforts shall be made to determine if all occupants have been successfully evacuated or have been accounted for. IFC 405.8 

An electrically or mechanically operated signal used to recall occupants after an evacuation shall be separate and distinct from the signal used to initiate the evacuation. The recall signal initiation means shall be manually operated and under the control of the person in charge of the premises or the official in charge of the incident. No one shall reenter the premises until authorized to do so by the official in charge. IFC 405.9 

Employees shall be trained in the fire emergency procedures described in their fire evacuation and fire safety plans. IFC 406.1 

Employees shall receive their training as part of new employee orientation and at lest annually thereafter. IFC 406.2 

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue 

Fire Prevention Division 

(702) 229-0366 

www.lasvegasnevada.gov/LawsCodes/fire_code.asp