Which Is The Correct Order Of Evacuation?

The initial scenario that surrounds an emergency is very crucial, because if your facility or property is known to be unsafe. Would you rather panic and be clueless about what to do, or would you immediately commence a well-thought-out evacuation plan?

Which is the correct order of evacuation? The correct order of evacuation is first detection, then decision, followed by alarm and reaction. The next phase will be the movement to the next area and transportation.

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In this article, you will know the correct order and sequence of evacuation and what should be included in your evacuation plan.

The Complexity Of The Evacuation Process

Evacuation procedure is a complicated matter, and it involves different branches and different stages and orders. They also have a wide-range of factors that can influence the efficiency and evacuee’s safety.

This type of complexity can be seen in different multiple scales, whether it involves a single building or a full city. Some phases overlap, and while others are sequential by stages and phases.

The sequence evacuation can be divided into different phases. First is the detection, and then it is followed by a decision. Once you are all set with your choices, then alarm and reaction is the next phase.

A movement to an area or an assembly station will be the next course of action. Then you can proceed with transportation.

The first four phases are called pre-movement time. The other phases are different depending on their objects. For instance, for ships, a distinction between an assemble, and embarkation is made.

These are separate from one another. The decision is whether to enter the boats is usually made after the assembly is done. 

Stages Of The Evacuation Process

Evacuation procedure needs to consider different risks from all the available hazards, resources, means of communication, demographics, the familiarity of the population, and the terrain.

To fully understand the whole process, it is essential to split it into stages and examine it in every turn. For every incident, there are two main stages, one in the event that led to the incident, and the next one is the event that takes place after the incident.

They are broadly defined as pre-incident and post-incident stages.

Pre-Incident Stage

The pre-incident events often influence the post-incident outcomes. For instance, they can influence via appropriately employed preventive maintenance.

The main interest focus on post-incident events and how the appropriate alleviation measures may improve the overall evacuation actions.

Post-Incident Stage

There are plenty of events involves in post-incident stages. These include incident detection, incident severity assessment, decision call for evacuation and alarm, and the command to evacuate.

It also includes the deployment of different emergency services and respondents required in the area of the emergency.

Once the alarm has given, the evacuation process starts. Just be mindful that while most people may begin evacuating after the alarm or verbal warning, some will respond by observing incident cues.

Then they proceed to notify others and just start the evacuation procedure before the raising of the alarm. This evacuation process is split into different parts. One of the parts is the response stage, also known as the pre-movement phase.

Response Stage

The response stage is notification, recognition, and decision phase. It usually ends once the evacuees respond and continue to move towards the location where they can be safe.

In the notification phase, the individuals are notified of the incident by the alarm, and they continue to observe other related cues like fire or smokes. Once they are notified, they will enter the next phase, which is the recognition phase.

The recognition face starts while the people investigate, they usually seek to attain some information and will start thew evacuation phase.

Once they all have the information they need, they will begin to decide some evacuation route to follow and which exit point to go to. Finally, they will decide to evacuate, and the response stage will come to an end once that person’s purposeful movements have started.

Things Emergency Evacuation Plans Should Do

Different emergency evacuation alarms are intended to alert all people in the area that an emergency or life-threatening situation exists. It is why it is essential to have an evacuation plan in place to ensure your safety.

Here are some of the things that your emergency evacuation plan should do:

Acknowledge All Individuals

All individuals will be affected when a disaster strikes. It is from employees and family members to customers and different emergency responders. They will be most likely to be affected during an emergency.

It is why it is vital that a thorough evacuation plan acknowledges and establishes procedures for all kinds of people. Especially the ones that need assistance due to their disabilities and other medical conditions.

Establish Roles And Responsibilities

When there is an emergency, chaos and confusion will be all over the place. It can happen if no one knows what you’re supposed to do or who will be in charge.

It is why it is vital to establish a clear chain of command which tasks specific individuals. They will have the authority and responsibility to give orders and direct all possible evacuations in the event of confusion.

They can also be designated to other tasks like accounting for all the constituents, people who need assistance, and shutting down all operations.

This kind of roles and responsibilities is essential to make sure there’s a smooth procedure. It can minimize damages and will guarantee safety for all individuals.

Make Provisions For Shelter-in-Place Or Evacuation

Depending on how strong the event and your circumstances are, one of the most important decisions you may face is to shelter-in-place or evacuate.

If the local government instructed to evacuate, you must follow their lead and evacuate the premises calmly but quickly. Having a clear mind and a comprehensive plan in place is essential.

If the type of emergency mandates the response, for instance, a chemical incident, active shooters, or tornado warning, it will require a shelter-in-place protocol.

If your building is in danger or damage, you need to establish a clearly-defined, accessible, and well-lit evacuation routes. Also, make sure all individuals are aware of both evacuation routes and all assembly areas.

Prioritize Fire Safety Planning

When creating emergency plans, people often prepare for the impact of severe weather events. That is not always the case. Fire emergencies are commonly underestimated when it comes to threats.

Do add it as a priority in your safety strategies, and this includes compliance with fire codes and regulations and routine safety inspections of the building.

Safeguard IT And Cybersecurity

People’s safety is always the top priority during emergencies. But it is also worth protecting your organization’s data and IT systems. An individual should evaluate if they will be able to have access to different critical information to be able to execute business continuity.

It is vital in managing the aspect that may require specialized expertise. You will be surprised to include this on your plan when your business isn’t immobilized for weeks following an emergency.

Document, Document, Document

Documentation is as vital as the evacuation plan itself. It should detail all the beneficial information, and all physical copies should be accessible with at least a copy of it offsite.

It is because all electronic copies will be limited and invaluable as your facility’s access will be limited and short.

Account For Individual Training

The more people know about all these emergencies that can occur; the more seamless the execution will be. It will help them to be able to know what to do and how to respond in a situation they are in.

For some companies, these types of training are included in their orientation. Some even offer routine interval training because of the changes related to building design or layout to staff turnover.

Even if nothing happens throughout the year, reiterating the plan will make sure all individuals are well-versed with the plan and won’t forget the procedure in an emergency.

Schedule Routine Reviews And Updates

Emergency planning and response change from time to time. It is dynamic, and a regular review of your plan is vital to determine some parts that need modification.

One way of identifying problem areas while reinforcing all emergency procedures is by implementing different drills. It will give you an idea of the plan will go smoothly. On the other hand, it will also show some areas that need modification and revision.

Conclusion

Overall, an emergency plan is not an easy task to do. There are plenty of aspects and factors that need to be considered. No emergency evacuation plan is complete without the critical component of communication.

Having the right knowledge is the key to ensuring that all individuals have all the information they need. Just keep in mind that the most effective way to communicate will vary from person to person.

Following and understanding all pointers mentioned above will give you an idea of how to execute and plan the right order of your evacuation plan.