1. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org Fire Drill Safety Tips September 2007

2. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 2 Prince George’s County Board of Education R. Owen Johnson, Jr., Chair Verjeana M. Jacobs, Esq., Vice Chair Donna Hathaway Beck Pat J. Fletcher Heather Iliff Rosalind A. Johnson Linda Thornton Thomas Ron L. Watson, Ph.D. Haywood Perry, III, Student Member John E. Deasy, Superintendent of Schools and Secretary/Treasurer

3. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 3 Fire Drill Safety Tips School fire drills are important for the safety of students, teachers and staff. Regular drills give everyone on school property the opportunity to prepare for emergencies, including identifying areas that need improvement.

4. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 4 Fire Drill Safety Tips Once a month Fire drills must be held at least once a month while school is in session.

5. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 5 Fire Drill Safety Tips Inspect everyday Principals, teachers and other school staff must inspect all exits daily to ensure that stairways, doors, and other exits are working properly and are unblocked.

6. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 6 Fire Drill Safety Tips Sound the alarm On the day of the drill, the school fire alarm system should be activated. Make sure that everyone can recognize the sound of the alarm and knows what to do when the alarm sounds.

7. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 7 Fire Drill Safety Tips Know the system Teachers, officials and staff should be familiar with the school’s fire protection system, including the location of fire alarm pull stations and sprinklers.

8. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 8 Fire Drill Safety Tips Have a plan Every room in the school should have a map posted identifying two exits. In schools with open floor plans, exit paths should be obvious and kept free of obstructions.

9. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 9 Fire Drill Safety Tips Everyone out A full evacuation - On the day of the drill, everyone in the school should participate.

10. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 10 Fire Drill Safety Tips Lend a hand Students with special needs should be assigned an adult or a student buddy to assist them. Fire drills are a good opportunity to identify who among the student population requires extra assistance.

11. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 11 Fire Drill Safety Tips Slow down While it is important to make sure that students leave the building as quickly as possible, order is more important than speed when it comes to conducting a safe drill.

12. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 12 Fire Drill Safety Tips Get out and stay out Once everyone has exited the building, they should remain outside at a predetermined location until the “all clear” has been given to re- enter the school.

13. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 13 Fire Drill Safety Tips Personnel accountability Use class rosters to ensure that every student is accounted for.

14. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 14 Fire Drill Safety Tips You never know Fire drills should be held both at expected and at unexpected times, and under varying conditions in order to simulate the conditions that can occur in an actual emergency.

15. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 15 Take it home School fire drills are a model for students to use in their homes. Encourage students to practice their escape plans at home – just as they do at school. Fire Drill Safety Tips

16. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS www.pgcps.org 16 References PGCPS Administrative Procedure 6114.1, Fire Drills. Code of Maryland (COMAR), Education Article 7-408. Prince George’s County Fire Code. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 1910.38 Emergency Action Plans. National Fire Academy (NFA), Safety in other occupancies – school fires. Nation Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 101 – 2000 Life Safety Code.