A school must always recognize the critical nature of fire prevention and maintain a fire-safe environment for our children. School fire safety measures include fire alarms, fire devices, fire drills, fire exits, fire escapes, and fire alarms.
School fire tragedies and disasters can be avoided if proper fire safety measures are implemented religiously, school authorities are informed, the appropriate school personnel are designated to implement such measures, all applicable government fire safety policies are followed, and, of course, students and faculty receive proper training and cooperation.
School fire prevention is critical for the simple reason that a large number of children congregate in one location and a single fire can affect them all. Chemistry laboratories, which contain a large number of flammable fluids, are particularly vulnerable. A fire in such locations has the potential to spread rapidly, and as a result, fire safety in schools has become a critical issue.
Not only can an uncontrolled fire cause significant property damage, but it can also result in a significant loss of life. Most schools have canteens; this typically entails dealing with large containers of LPG, which can result in fire outbreaks. This issue should also be monitored on a regular basis to ensure the school’s fire safety.
Each school must take the necessary precautions to ensure that nothing untoward occurs in the event of an emergency, such as a fire. Each floor must have a fire extinguisher, a fire alarm, and any other necessary fire safety equipment for containing a fire before it spreads. Learn more about the importance of fire prevention in schools by visiting this page.
Students must be trained by firefighters on the proper use of firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers. The school’s administration should ensure that the electrical wiring in the building is inspected on a regular basis. Additionally, they should instill a fire safety culture among the installation’s users, such as unplugging electrical appliances when not in use, using cords within their indicated ratings, and replacing damaged or old electrical cords.
A successful fire prevention program should be tailored to the unique circumstances of each school, but should include four critical components:
Fire safety regulations that mitigate the risk of fire
Fire safety and educational programs that educate the public about the laws
Inspections on a regular basis to ensure that the rules are being followed
Consequences are enforced to encourage compliance.
What To Do In The Event Of A School Fire
1. Arrange For An Alarm
Anyone who discovers a fire must immediately sound the alarm by activating the nearest fire alarm call point.
2. Contact The Fire Department
All fire outbreaks or suspected fires, regardless of size, should be reported immediately to the fire service via the quickest available method. This task could easily be delegated to the school secretary, as a telephone will be available in that location.
3.Evacuate
Students must be instructed to exit the building in a single file and in a calm, orderly manner upon hearing the fire alarm. The instructor in charge of each class must indicate the appropriate exit route and direct everyone to a predetermined assembly point. Special arrangements must be made to assist students with physical or mental disabilities during the evacuation.
There is to be no running. Running can elicit feelings of panic
Everyone must descend in a single file on staircases. Class or individual overtaking must not be permitted.
No lifts may be used.
Anyone who is not in class at the time of the fire alarm must immediately proceed to the assembly point.
No one may re-enter the building until the fire service or, in the case of a fire evacuation drill, the senior person in charge directs them to do so.
4. Organize
Outside of the school grounds, an area must be designated as an assembly point. It must be prominently displayed and easily identifiable by anyone who may be on school grounds. It must be located sufficiently away from the school grounds to provide adequate protection from the heat and smoke produced by a fire. It should be situated in such a way that emergency vehicles responding to the incident do not endanger students and staff.
5. Call to Order
One person should be nominated to oversee the roll call process in the event of a fire alarm. They should follow the instructions below:
Immediately following the assembly of classes at the assembly point, a roll call or count must be conducted to ensure that no one remains inside.
At that time, any visitors or contractors on the premises must be included.
The assembly point count must be cross-checked against the attendance registers and visitors book to ensure that everyone has exited the building.
Attendance registers and visitor books should be kept centrally and must be brought to the assembly point upon the sounding of the alarm.
Each teacher must report to the designated person in charge of the evacuation to ensure that everyone in their charge is safe and sound or to inform him or her of the number of people who are missing.
Preventing fire tragedies and disasters in schools is the primary concern of any school. It is the school’s primary responsibility to implement all necessary school fire safety measures in order to mitigate, if not completely prevent, fire disasters and tragedies. This is why it is critical to adhere to the Importance of Fire Prevention.