Exit Techniques
Nonemergency exit techniques are strategies used to safely leave a location in a calm and orderly manner. These techniques are often employed in public places, such as offices, schools, theaters, and shopping centers, where large numbers of people are present. There are three main techniques: planned evacuation, stay-put policy, and phased evacuation.
Planned Evacuation
Planned evacuation is the most common approach that involves the complete evacuation of all occupants from a building or location immediately when an alarm is sounded or when instructed. It is typically adopted in situations where the safety of the house cannot be guaranteed, such as during a fire drill or a power outage (Clausing & Fortney, 2019). A good example of such evacuation is when a school conducts a fire drill. Students, teachers, and staff all exit the facility in an orderly manner via predefined routes to a secure assembly point.
Stay-Put Policy
The stay-put policy strategy is also known as “defend in place.” It is generally utilized in high-rise houses, hospitals, or care homes where evacuation may not be the safest option due to the mobility of occupants or the design of the building. The idea is to compartmentalize the danger and protect those who are not in direct danger by staying where they are (Wilder, 2023). For instance, in a healthcare organization, patients who are not in the affected area are better off remaining in their rooms rather than being moved which could potentially cause more harm.
Phased Evacuation
Finally, phased evacuation is often applied in larger constructions where instant total evacuation is not necessary or could probably lead to congestion and confusion. In a phased evacuation, occupants in the area most at risk are evacuated first, followed by those in less immediate danger (Clausing & Fortney, 2019). For example, in a multi-story office building, if a nonemergency situation occurs on the 5th floor, individuals on that floor would be evacuated first, then the 4th floor, and so on, preventing chaos and ensuring a smooth and orderly evacuation process.
References
Clausing, C., & Fortney, J. (2019). Essentials of fire fighting. New York, NY: IFSTA.
Wilder, S. S. (2023). Risk management in the fire service. New York, NY: PennWell Books.