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Fire Alarms -- Always a Call to Act
Posted
12-1-07
At a recent meeting of the Westmoreland County
Fire Chiefs Association, we discussed a topic that should be
important to all of us -- the efficient exiting of a building
when a fire alarm goes off. The subject is important because
when the fire alarm sounds, people exiting quickly and
efficiently can save lives.
The subject came up when one fireman, who is
also a safety officer at his place of employment, discussed his
company's plan for employees to follow when an alarm goes off.
The firemen then asked me about how the evacuation had gone when
the county had a small fire in the Courthouse recently.
Unfortunately, I had to report that while the overwhelming
majority of people in the Courthouse followed appropriate
procedures by exiting and reporting to an assigned destination,
a small number thought, "It was just another false alarm" and
had to be reminded to leave the building.
It was that attitude, "It must be a false
alarm," that disturbed the firemen. Other stories were told,
including teachers and students at a local school not responding
appropriately to a fire drill, and that is what prompted me to
highlight the importance of fire drills here.
There is simply no way to respond other than to
take alarms seriously. False alarms can be frustrating and
disruptive in any setting. But false alarms and drills are a way
of practicing for the real thing. Being ready for an evacuation
in a real emergency helps to save lives, and it helps first
responders by allowing them to do their jobs.
In the case of the Westmoreland County
Courthouse, we have from time to time had people accidentally
pull alarms, and we do conduct drills in accordance with our
overall emergency plans. But the most recent event was an actual
fire in the Treasurer's Office. Even though it was small, and
contained and extinguished quickly, if it had spread, the
situation could quickly have become challenging with hundreds of
employees and members of the public spread throughout a
six-story building complex. The recent fire was a reminder to us
to ensure that our workers understand the proper evacuation
protocols and the need to act responsibly.
I am writing this article as a reminder for all
of us because we all will hear the sound of a fire alarm, either
at work, home or visiting some other building. Taking that alarm
seriously can save your life or the lives of others. We are
fortunate in Westmoreland County for our fellow citizens who
serve as first responders; most of whom are volunteer
firefighters. Don't we owe it to those volunteers, who put their
lives on the line for us, to at least respond responsibly when
the fire alarm sounds?
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