On an individual level, fire preparedness is perhaps one of the simpler facets of survival awareness. The do and do not list is fairly binary, and most homes have at least some form of protection – by code if not by intention.
In fact, Dr. Bradley’s Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for The Family does not even devote dedicated chapter to fire events.
Public spaces however, or another matter. Procedures are again rather black and white. Exits are marked, extinguishers are usually available, sprinklers abound, and there are even maps made available in some spaces for the quickest egress. Yours truly produced the various fire maps at the University of Kentucky’s campus you will find in the corner of every hallway.
Add to that drills, classes, seminars, and signs. But are we overexposed? Picture the following: Caskey, D. V. (2017, January 14). Project 2 – Scene Depiction. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from https://www.caskeys.com/dc/project-2-scene-depiction-project/
A smoke alarm blares. It’s three in the morning. You’re tired. Tomorrow is a big day. It’s cold outside and probably wet. Your professor couldn’t care less if you had to get up, and the last three events were all false alarms. Odds are this one is too. Or there could be a tiny trash can fire next door, harmless now but in less than two minutes utterly impassable. Do you chance it and take your time gathering up comfortable clothing, phones and such before muddling downstairs? Do you not even bother and just go back to bed?
Statistics say going back to bed is the best choice – until the one time it isn’t. Can we do something to “pierce the fog” as it were? Emergency authorities think so, by adopting the tried and true technique from good writing – show, don’t tell.
In September 2010, The UK Fire Marshal’s office instituted the Don’t Be an Ash program and began example dorm burning in public venues to help spread awareness to students and staff. Flashover is a rather dry description – at a temperature point, everything in the room ignites in a single flash. Seeing it happen is an entirely different experience. Has there been an effect?
According to the UK Campus Fire Log University of Kentucky. (2018, March 28). Campus Fire Log. Retrieved March 28, 2018, from http://ehs.uky.edu/apps/flashpoint/incident_log.php, from 2010-01-01 to 2014-12-31, nineteen hundred thirteen fire incidents on campus occurred. Of these, four incidents resulted in injuries. By comparison, from 2005-01-01 to 2009-12-31, two thousand one hundred sixteen incidents occurred, with five of these resulting in injury.
It would seem showing is the best means of engagement, but as with all things a balanced approach is key. It is s till important to ensure after engagement to action, the proper actions are still known.