evacuation would be used to divide the total number of persons into smaller groups, the group then leaving in stages and not on mass. The theme through all of the scenarios is that there is a need and requirement for members of the public to be 'managed' during an evacuation, and whilst signage for example, is of use, it cannot be solely relied upon. E5.2 Summary In this section we have covered: Fire evacuation • Types of evacuation procedures (staged, phased, horizontal, etc.) and interaction with staged alarm systems • Actions required when evacuating members of the public. 5.3: Behaviours of people in the event of a fire Assessment criteria: 5.3: Understand the behaviours of people during fires and why emergency plans are required. Principles of sensory perception Perception and Behaviour of People in the Event of a Fire Human Behaviour: It is generally assumed that during a fire situation fear will develop into panic, this is not always the case. Fear can be reduced through gaining a familiarity with the layout and the procedures of evacuations through regular drills. People experience a whole range of behaviour when confronted with a fire situation: There can be a total disbelief in what is happening. There can be complacency if too many false alarms have occurred in the past, or even a morbid interest in the outcome, which may lead them to postpone evacuating. Some people may not consider the situation a threat until the fire cues can be visually seen, heard, felt, or smelt. At this time, the fire can overtake them, and they may become engulfed with smoke or flames, which can then create a state of panic that may cause people to act irrationally. An example of such is if a nearby escape route or exit contains smoke. The evacuee, in their panic, may ignore this exit and move towards one further away, keeping them in a dangerous situation for a longer period of time. Previous experience with fire situations, or lack thereof, can have a major impact upon behaviour. A person never having experienced a fire situation before can either be more afraid, as they have no idea what to expect, or they may not realise the actual threat and may be slow to evacuate. A person with previous experience in such situations may be calmer as they know what to do and how to do it or there could be the invincibility scenario, "I have been in one before and nothing happened so it will not this time". This can be a very dangerous state of mind as they may take unnecessary risks. The location of the fire, and the person's location in relation to it, can also have a great impact on human behaviour. If the fire is at some distance away, evacuees are more likely to feel less threatened and may remain calmer,
©SHEilds – All rights reserved FCV 4 JUN 2021
Page 9 of 20
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software