Fire drill evacuation maps are recommended by fire departments in every state. OSHA requires businesses to post evacuation maps on site. These maps are not only beneficial to your business, but also your home. They allow you to stay calm during an emergency, which can prevent injuries or even death. A fire drill should be scheduled at least two times a year to ensure that everyone is clear on the procedures and evacuation plan.
Take your graph paper and draw a floor plan of you home or office. Include all your windows and doors. For windows, you can use a zigzag pattern. Use double lines for doors.These are just suggestions. Feel free to use designations for windows and doors that you will remember in an emergency. Leave enough room on the bottom for you to draw a key for the map.
Label all of the areas of your office or home. Also, indicate where all of the fire alarms and extinguishers are. Select a red square for the fire alarms and red circles for the extinguishers. Add these symbols to the map key.
Mark all exits on the map using a green arrow right outside of the exit. Add this symbol to the map key.
Write evacuation procedures on the bottom of the paper. Try to keep them down to three or four steps.
Make copies of your map.
Mark on the map where it will be posted with a yellow star. Underneath this symbol write Where You Are.
Draw your primary evacuation route with a red colored pencil for each area. Draw your secondary route for each area with a black colored pencil. Use arrows so your family or employees will know what direction to go.
Write the meeting spot for that section on the bottom of the map.
Post the maps in the location that corresponds with the evacuation route.
Schedule fire drills at least twice a year. This will allow your family and friends to become familiar with the procedures.
Place all emergency numbers on the top of the map. This will be useful during an actual emergency.
- Place all emergency numbers on the top of the map. This will be useful during an actual emergency.
- fire truck image by charles taylor from Fotolia.com