When we hear a fire alarm we have been conditioned from our earliest years to get out or evacuate. But what do we do in a situation where we need to be made aware of danger and evacuation is not always the best course of action? Different emergency situations will require different types of response. These can include Evacuate, Invacuate or Lockdown. Do you know what to do in an emergency and have you practised a response to make it instinctive?

The tragic events in Paris on 7th January 2015 demonstrated the need for neighbouring businesses to have a clearly communicated “Lockdown” policy.

Here is a rundown of the 3 main emergency drills and when you would employ them:

EVACUATE

Orderly removal of people from the building, usually due to a fire or other incident within the building;

INVACUATE

Everyone should be made aware of the emergency and moved to the most sheltered areas within the building. This should be away from external windows and other exposed areas. Invacuation is typically employed if moving outside would increase the risk to people (Bomb Threat, Toxic Fumes etc);

LOCKDOWN

Lock external doors and windows and take immediate shelter in a secure location, such as a cupboard or locked meeting room. Stay there until such time as the all-clear signal is raised. Lockdown would typically be used as a response to a security incident or threat.

In some buildings, Invacuate and Lockdown are combined for simplicity, ie. Get Out or Stay Put.

These emergency drills can make the difference between life and death. They are relatively easy to write into policy and rehearse, so there really is no excuse not to amend your emergency drills right now.

For further information on how to create an appropriate plan for your building, please contact us at help@trackmyrisks.com