Some buildings are more hazardous than others. However, regardless of the its location or purpose, any building needs to take precautions for safety. There are many different situations in which an apartment building, and office building, or any other type of building might need to be evacuated, such as a fire, a blackout, an intruder, or some type of chemical being released into the air. If a building has emergency exit signs with lights, it will be much easier to safely and quickly evacuate people.
When we think of emergencies, one of the first things we think of is a fire. However, a blackout can also be very dangerous, especially in a large building. When a blackout occurs, people have a difficult time finding their way around and reaching the exits. This is a time when lighted signs would be particularly useful.
Here are a few more tips for emergency preparedness:
1. Make sure all exits are accessible. Having exits that are designated for emergencies in addition to the regular exits is great. However, if those doors are blocked shelves or garbage cans, or if the stairwells that allow access to them are locked, they will do no good. Make sure these exits are able to be used quickly and without much trouble if it becomes necessary to use them.
2. Develop an organized evacuation plan. When people become frightened, they often erupt into chaos. This can make a dangerous situation even more dangerous. In order to prevent, or at least mitigate, chaos, create a plan that will tell people specifically where to go and how to get out of the building. There should be at leas one person from every floor who is a leader and is particularly familiar with this plan.
3. Communicate regularly about the plan. Call a meeting every six months of the people who are designated on each floor. Review their duties and all of the procedures, and make them aware of any changes. This can help to ensure that you fill any gaps in the leadership, making sure that each area of the building is covered by an informed person. Let these people know that they need to tell someone if they become unable to perform their duties.
4. Post written instructions on the walls of the building. It is great and necessary to have your designated evacuation leaders on every floor. However, there might come a time when things have gotten so chaotic that these people are unable to reach everyone and provide instructions. This is one of the reasons why it helps to have the instructions posted on the walls, with diagrams.
We always hope that emergencies will not occur, and that evacuation plans will be unnecessary, never actually being put to use. However, having a plan in place, and taking safety precautions such as installing emergency exits with lights, will help provide you and the other people in your building with peace of mind. It helps to know that an organized plan exists when and if it is ever needed.
When we think of emergencies, one of the first things we think of is a fire. However, a blackout can also be very dangerous, especially in a large building. When a blackout occurs, people have a difficult time finding their way around and reaching the exits. This is a time when lighted signs would be particularly useful.
Here are a few more tips for emergency preparedness:
1. Make sure all exits are accessible. Having exits that are designated for emergencies in addition to the regular exits is great. However, if those doors are blocked shelves or garbage cans, or if the stairwells that allow access to them are locked, they will do no good. Make sure these exits are able to be used quickly and without much trouble if it becomes necessary to use them.
2. Develop an organized evacuation plan. When people become frightened, they often erupt into chaos. This can make a dangerous situation even more dangerous. In order to prevent, or at least mitigate, chaos, create a plan that will tell people specifically where to go and how to get out of the building. There should be at leas one person from every floor who is a leader and is particularly familiar with this plan.
3. Communicate regularly about the plan. Call a meeting every six months of the people who are designated on each floor. Review their duties and all of the procedures, and make them aware of any changes. This can help to ensure that you fill any gaps in the leadership, making sure that each area of the building is covered by an informed person. Let these people know that they need to tell someone if they become unable to perform their duties.
4. Post written instructions on the walls of the building. It is great and necessary to have your designated evacuation leaders on every floor. However, there might come a time when things have gotten so chaotic that these people are unable to reach everyone and provide instructions. This is one of the reasons why it helps to have the instructions posted on the walls, with diagrams.
We always hope that emergencies will not occur, and that evacuation plans will be unnecessary, never actually being put to use. However, having a plan in place, and taking safety precautions such as installing emergency exits with lights, will help provide you and the other people in your building with peace of mind. It helps to know that an organized plan exists when and if it is ever needed.
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