Experiences in Organizing and Implementing Evacuation Drills for People at Risk From Educational Facilities

Regular evacuation drills for individuals at risk in public facilities are of great importance for employees and visitors, as they improve efficiency and reduce the risk of consequences in real-life fire situations and other emergency events. They are particularly important in facilities used by educational institutions, as these environments, in addition to staff, accommodate a large number of children and young people. Well-prepared, organized, and implemented drills in such institutions enable the verification of alarm systems, evacuation plans and routes, as well as procedures and actions of both staff and students, while also helping to reduce fear and panic. When planning these drills, it is essential to ensure detailed preparation for all key participants involved in their implementation: the director, civil protection officers, teachers, professors, and administrative and technical staff. After the drill is conducted, it is also necessary to analyze all activities carried out during the exercise, identify areas for improvement, and derive lessons, conclusions, and measures for the future. The group of authors analyzed the implemented activities, with particular emphasis on the organizational aspects of the drills and on identifying critical points in the evacuation process. A total of 16 evacuation drills were organized and conducted in all primary and secondary schools within a local self-government unit over a previous period. This paper presents experiences related to the preparation of employees and teaching staff for conducting evacuation drills, potential shortcomings, difficulties, and threats encountered during their implementation, as well as lessons learned following the post-drill analysis involving all key stakeholders. The obtained results confirm that a systematic approach to planning, implementing, and analyzing evacuation drills is a key factor in reducing risks and increasing safety in educational institutions.