MAYHILL JUNIOR SCHOOL FIRE EVACUATION POLICY and NON FIRE EVACUATION POLICY All emergency evacuation from the school premises, whether due to fire or not, will be dealt with, in the first instance, as a fire emergency. Pupils and staff should react to the fire alarm and conform to the actions outlined in this policy. The Evacuation Manager (HT), the Roll Call Manager (DHT), the Fire Service Manager (AO) and the Fire Marshalls will all perform the same duties as if the evacuation was fire related, until it is proved to be otherwise. Pupils, staff and visitors should, in the first instance, move to the Initial Assembly Point as if for a fire evacuation. 1 Primary actions On hearing the alarm staff and pupils will leave the building in the predetermined manner and proceed to the assembly point. On hearing the fire alarm, having confirmed a fire, the Fire Marshal (based in Reception) will call the Fire & Rescue Service. Our initial assembly point is on the Top Playground and, if necessary a secondary point is on the school field behind Buryfields Car Park. The Office Staff and/or SLT members if in the Office will be responsible for taking the class registers, staff signing in board (or photo of), signing-in books and first-aid kit to the assembly point. The Fire Marshals will be responsible for sweeping either upper or lower school. Pupils will line up at the opposite fence to the field gate in their class lines and class teachers will then conduct a count of children to confirm all are present. Kitchen staff will turn off all gas and electrical apparatus that does not automatically shut on operation of the fire alarm. Classes taking part in outdoor activities will proceed straight to the assembly point. Any children who are not in their classroom when the alarm is sounded (e.g. corridors, staff room, toilets etc) should be trained to go to the assembly point and report to their class teacher or class group. They should NOT go to their classroom on hearing the alarm. In the event of an alarm sounding at lunchtime, on hearing the alarm, children already in the dining hall are accompanied by a supervisory assistant and file out in a quiet and orderly manner, using the exit doors and make their way to the assembly points. Children outside will line up at the assembly point. Children will then be registered with their usual class teacher at the assembly point. In the absence of the class teacher, other adults will assume the responsibility and take the roll call. In the case of the children being on the school field during lunch, see Appendix A. 1
2 Evacuation Management EVACUATION MANAGER - The Headteacher or in their absence the Deputy Headteacher will assume the duties of this role, which are: Overseeing the evacuation and checking that all is operating in accordance with the predetermined plan. Be available to liaise with the fire & rescue service as necessary. Coordinate, disseminate and act on information from the assembly point and fire service. ROLL CALL MANAGER The Deputy Headteacher or in their absence the Finance Officer will be responsible for ensuring the roll call is undertaken and passing relevant information relating to this to the Evacuation manager and Fire Service Reception Marshal FIRE SERVICE MANAGER Finance Officer or in their absence the Admin Officer will meet the Fire & Rescue Service on their arrival and provide details of the fire, any persons unaccounted for and present them with the Evacuation-Pack. They will remain available to liaise with the Fire Service as necessary and inform them of any updated information relating to unaccounted persons. FIRE MARSHAL ROLES Teaching Assistants and Admin Officer will be responsible for General Fire Marshal duties as follows: - Encouraging every one in their area to leave the building promptly. - Closing doors and windows on leaving (if safe to do so). - Reporting their findings to the Roll Call Manager. - Remain available at the assembly point to assist as necessary. 3 Visitors, Contractors & Special needs Unaccompanied visitors and contractors will be informed what sound the fire alarm makes, the location of the assembly point and shown the emergency exits in the area(s) in which they have access or are working and will be required to attend the assembly point on operation of the fire alarm. Accompanied visitors/contractors will be escorted to the assembly point by their host. Staff and pupils who may need assistance during evacuation or require special arrangements to enable them to hear the alarm will be the subject of a personal emergency evacuation plan, which will identify the needs and support actions necessary and details of that support. Visitors and contractors who may need assistance during evacuation or require special arrangements to enable them to hear the alarm will be assessed on arrival at the premises and suitable arrangements made to meet their needs. 2
Fire fighting arrangements Generally, with the exception of reactive fire fighting to secure means of escape, a flight not fight policy exists in the premises but evacuation remains a priority. The appropriate provisions for the use of fire fighting equipment in the premises will only be undertaken by suitably trained staff when they have assessed the situation as being reasonably safe to do so. This fire fighting will only be undertaken by a minimum of two suitably trained, qualified and designated staff who must have due regard to the following: They WILL: Only undertake these activities with the agreement of the evacuation manager or the senior most person available, if this is not the evacuation manager. Ensure the evacuation manager is aware they are tackling the fire and they must report back to that person when they leave the building. NB: The evacuation manager must inform the fire service on their arrival if they are still in the building. Only tackle small fires Take two extinguishers if possible Leave the building if the first extinguisher has little or no effect on the fire If one person has to leave the building both, or all if more than two, will leave. They will NOT: Enter thick smoky atmospheres or where it s obviously a rapidly developing fire or the fire is already well established. Remain in the building if visibility is deteriorating. Remain in the building if they feel unwell or the products of combustion are affecting their breathing. First aid arrangements The first aid kit will be taken to the assembly point and a first aider will be available to render assistance should this be necessary. The first aider will be responsible for instigating requests for an ambulance should this be necessary. Emergency Information Pack To enable the Fire Brigade Commander to better assess the risks to fire fighters an Emergency Evacuation Pack will be presented to the Fire Brigade on their arrival. This will include as a minimum the following information: The asbestos register (or copy). The evacuation strategy and list of responsible people. 3
A drawing of the premises indicating: o Essential structural features such as the layout of the building, escape routes, doorways, partitions, corridors stairways etc (including any fire-resisting structure and self-closing fire doors provided to protect means of escape. o The location of any hazardous or flammable material and pressurised gasses e.g. oxygen and LPG etc o The location of main electrical supply switch, the main water shut-off valve and where appropriate, the main gas or oil shut-off valves o The location of fire alarm call points and control equipment for the fire alarm; o The location of the two nearest hydrants and/or large amounts of open water, such as rivers, ponds or swimming pools if close by. Guidance for Hirers Hirers should make themselves and all associated visitors aware of the fire exits, extinguishers and evacuation procedures. In the event of the alarm sounding: If this is a known false alarm hirers must answer the phone in the main office and confirm that the Fire Brigade is NOT required. Otherwise the brigade will attend. This phone call should happen within 3 minutes. The alarm can be silenced and reset at the panel by the main front door. The alarm is silenced by pressing the Silence/Resound button. The panel is silenced by using the Mute button. The system can then be reset using the Reset button. Please be sure to inform the school that this has happened. If this is a genuine or unknown alarm activation The first priority is to evacuate everyone. The identified area for this for hirers is the Car Park between Mayhill and Buryfields Infants. Evacuation is through the marked Fire Exits. If Fire Exits to the playground are used the hirer must be aware of the code for the gate padlocks, available form the School Office. The key hirer should also be aware of the location and details of the Evacuation Plan which is kept in the School Office. This plan will need to be shared with the Fire Officers on their arrival. Contact with a member of school staff should be made once evacuation is complete. 4
Appendix A Fire Evacuation Procedures For When Using The Field At Lunch Times. Field staff will be informed of the fire bell sounding by use of a walkie talkie to the nominated person/s on lead duty for that day as well as the person on duty in the road. When the member of field staff receives a message from a member of school staff, that the fire bell is sounding, they must blow the whistle to stop the children. A second whistle will then be blown to alert the children to line up, as per at the end of a usual lunch break. After a minute a third whistle should be sounded and this will indicate to the children that they must stand quietly and the lead Mid-Day Supervisor will inform the children that the fire bell is sounding and that they must quietly await their teacher to take the register. Any children who are on the lower playground at school will be led, across the top playground if safe to do so or via the lower playground gate, up to the field by the members of staff on duty/chill out members of staff on the lower playground at that time. When the children reach the field they are to immediately join the rest of their class. Any children who are in the hall eating dinner are to be guided out of the building by the mid-day supervisor s through one fire exit, and led up to the field, where the children will join their class. Any child who is in the building will be told, prior to drills and through regular reminders from staff, that they are to exit the building by the nearest fire exit and make their way across the playground to the field. The road duty member of staff MUST remain on duty on the road to ensure that all children move safely up to the field. A sweep of the building will be completed by nominated staff who will then join the rest of the school on the field. Any other staff must check their immediate area for children and then leave the building, CLOSING any fire doors/open windows on their way out and make their way to the field. When all registers have been completed and HT/Roll Call Manager/AO have given the all clear and the bell has been silenced then the children may return to school/continue playing on the field if lunch time still has time to run. Any children who have left their dinner will be required to be led back to school by staff. In order for staff to be appropriately accounted for they MUST ensure that the in/out board is kept current. This is for YOUR safety. 5