Evacuation Drill

　　The annual evacuation drill was performed in my office today. The drill was set under the assumption that a fire broke out in a hospital ward after midnight, when the number of staff members on duty was extremely small. A few nurses played the roles of long-term bedridden patients, the finder of the fire, the informer to the fire department, and some trying the initial fire extinguishing, shutting the fire protection doors, and so on. At the end of the drill, a veteran firefighter dispatched for supervision from the fire department stated his opinion. His assessment was really good and I was relieved to hear his remarks. Then the session of the actual handling of fire extinguishers started. Several staff members who hadn't used them learned how to use them.
　　Even though you know what to do in case of fire, you'll find something if you actually do the drill. This drill is required by law. I felt the significance of doing the drill annually.

 

今日は職場で火災の際の避難訓練が行われた。設定は深夜、職員数が減り、患者もおおかた寝ている時間帯に病棟から出火したという設定。火災が起こった部屋で休んでいる患者役、火事の発見役、消火器を用意したり、患者の搬送をする役、消防への通報役など役割を決めて万一の際の手順を確認した。防火扉の開閉や、実際に消化剤の代わりに水を入れた消火器を使って訓練した。やはりやってみるといろいろと見えてくるものがある。消防署職員の指導の下、法令によって年に一度することを義務づけられているのだが、火災が起こらないことを願いつつ毎年訓練をすることの意義を感じた。