"Within the field of behavioural science, it is pointed out that people often choose the known before the unknown, which would explain the above behaviour." Certain studies of the use of exit routes, arrived at the conclusion that knowledge of, and familiarity with, routes is important if they are to be used. According to this study, this is more important than the dimensions of the exit routes. This is why fire drills are an important aspect of any fire procedure as they ensure staff are familiar with exits. Staging an evacuation with a simulated blocked exit will encourage people to become more familiar with alternative exits. As it is unlikely that visitors or contractors will have attended fire drills, it is essential that fire evacuation procedures are stressed as part of any site induction and it should be noted in the fire procedures that staff look after visitors during such situations. The location of exits is also important for their use, for example in a cinema, it is better to have the emergency exits located at the front of the room so that the people sitting in the cinema can see them. This extract is an example of exit choice, based on the outcomes of a fire in a Woolworth's store in Manchester, UK. There were two staircases intended for evacuation, as well as a central escalator connecting the three floors. Of the customers, 71 per cent used one of the two staircases (A) for evacuation and 22 per cent used the escalator , the same way they had come up to the restaurant on the second floor, while the staff mainly used the two staircases. The reason that so many customers used staircase A and that none used staircase B was that the first was used as a normal route up to the restaurant on the second floor. Staircase B was intended only for evacuation. The employees knew about it and therefore used staircase B together with staircase A , but only a few of the customers did so. These patterns of exit choice during a fire situation should be considered at the design stage especially in larger buildings. It may be good practice to ensure more exits are available than is actually needed. Likely behaviour of individuals responsible for others during a fire In families and certain other social groups, including enforced grouping, (the examples below being nurses and patients and teachers and pupils) strong physiological bonds can develop. This means that, by instinct, the 'stronger' members of the group wish to protect the weaker, or the group feels stronger by staying together, this condition can be termed as affiliation. Affiliation is such a strong concept that it over-rides the threat, affiliation is one cause of a delayed start of evacuation. It can be that no one starts to evacuate until everyone in a family group is ready. Once a group has started to evacuate, the slowest member determines the speed of movement for the entire group. Regardless of the threat, parents will not leave without their children, children are reluctant to go without their siblings. There are numerous reported incidences of parents and other family members entering or re-entering a burning property in an attempt to save a child thought to be still in the premises.
©SHEilds – All rights reserved FCV 4 JUN 2021
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