How to initiate a fire drill in an apartment?

A fire in an apartment building usually strikes more than one unit, which further results in the damage of many occupants. The dense nature of the apartment building eventually allows the spread of smoke, heat and fire.

A fire accident is always expected and every apartment owner should be prepared for it beforehand. One should respond to a fire instantly and doing this will save their home and family from being affected. How is it possible for every apartment owner to save themselves when a fire strikes? Here comes the role of a fire drill, it is mandatory that every apartment association organises a fire drill in their apartment.

The causes for a fire in an apartment:

• Cooking/kitchen fires.
• Heating equipment like stoves or space heaters.
• Smoking materials.
• Arson, including child fire play.

What are the essentials of avoiding a fire accident in an apartment?

It is very important that every apartment society should ensure that they have  fire safety equipments in working condition. Each member should be instructed about its usage and should be easily accessible. Here are some responsibilities of an apartment society;

• Instruct every apartment member about the causes of a fire accident and tell them carefully about the fire prevention.
• Minimize the loss to life in the eventuality of a fire.
• Carry out fire drills at regular intervals.

Why should a fire drill be carried out in an apartment?

Studies have shown that mostly people who try saving themselves are the ones get killed in fire accidents. Organising a fire drill in an apartment society will help the owners develop a precisely planned fire exit plan. This further teaches them to take control of the situation in a pre-planned manner rather than panicking and fretting.

The process of carrying a fire drill and its requisites:

• Planning the fire drill.
• Executing the plan.
• Assessing the outcome.
• An apartment association should test the smoke alarm every month and change the batteries on a yearly basis.
• A fire drill should be organised every year.
• They should not allot parking spaces near the fire hydrants and should have an easy and open access for fire trucks.
• Have the fire brigade number on the notice board of the apartment society.
• The apartment can also have windows with security bars and emergency release widows which can be easily accessed from inside.

Instructions on how an apartment association can carry out a fire drill:

Planning the fire drill:

• The apartment association members should fix a date, time and venue to schedule the fire drills in the apartment.
• Make the society members aware about the safety through a fire drill and ensure that everyone attends.
• Tell them on how they can plan an exit route in their apartment which includes the bedroom. All the rooms of the home should be taken in to account while forming an escape route. Every route can be used in times of a fire accident in case the some route is blocked. The routes should be easily accessible and should ensure that the fire fighters are able to see the victim.
• It is very important that every members should be present at the fire drill organisation.
• The association can call the fire department and ask them to give a demonstration of a fire drill or appoint certain members from the apartment to give a demonstration.
• Create a list of all the members of an apartment society. This becomes easy for every member while planning the fire exit.

Executing the fire drill:

• While showing a fire drill demonstration, one can create a mock fire near any of the apartment fire sensors.
• With the initiation of a mock fire, the fire sensors will quickly detect the fire in the apartment and then all the apartment members should be instructed to assemble outside the apartment from the nearest exit.
• There should be a time limit chosen to exit at the time of a fire accident. The limited time would be 3-4 minutes.
• The fire exit should be easily accessible and should be reachable for everyone.
• In case there are people who cannot make it within 3-4 minutes, the fire drill should be reset again.
• All the members can get back to their apartments once the all clear signal is given.

Evaluating the fire drill:

When the fire drill is organised, one should ensure that they document every minute details and the problems faced during the demo. In case there are many problems, the apartment association can seek the help of a fire fighting agency.
The apartment association can distribute a print copy amongst all the members and discuss the problems.
Keep a deadline for all the related problems to be solved.

Pointers to keep in mind in case of a fire accident:

• Know the exit plan well.
• Practise is the key.
• Never use the elevator in case of a fire.
• Stay low.
• Seal yourself in for safety.
• Stay by the window.
• Signal for the fire-fighters.

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