Introduction

This is a draft of the school fire drill/evacuation policy which has been formulated through whole staff consultation and The Schools Fire Officer in Navan Co-Meath. 

Rationale

• Enable the school to provide for the immediate needs of students, staff and visitors in the event of a fire.
• Have in place appropriate safety procedures that comply with the Health, Safety and Welfare Act.
• Ensure a safe school environment for all.

 

School Ethos

The school is committed to the care of the whole school community and the provision of a safe and secure environment for learning. This policy is in keeping with those ideals.

 

Aims/objectives

• To utilise outside agencies (local fire station, fire officer) for training and staff development, so as to enhance safety procedures.

 

• To develop a tried and trusted framework which will ensure the safety of all personnel in the event of a fire?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internal procedures

The school requested a visit from the local fire station recently. The schools fire officer visited the school to discuss fire safety and evacuation procedures.

The fire Officer and crew will return to speak to all classes on fire safety, show DVD of the dangers of fire and demonstrate the workings of the fire brigade.

A qualified person checks fire extinguishers, fire blankets and fire exits on a yearly basis

Ms. Mc Govern (each fortnight) will use a fire checklist to ensure that all exits are clear and safe and all equipment is in working order e.g. fire extinguishers, fire blankets and alarms.

In the event of a fire the following steps must be taken

 

• The Secretary (J. Dunne) will call the fire brigade in the event of an alarm

 

• In all classroom/resource areas, the children all stand up, push their chairs back under their tables and calmly to the door in single file.

Room 1   -     exit through main door

Room 3   -     exit through fire exit

Room 4   -    exit through main door

Room 5   -     exit through main door

Room 6   -    exit through Library fire exit

Room 7   -   exit through main door

Room 8   -   exit through main door

Room 9   -   exit through fire exit

Room 10 -    exit through fire exit

Room 11 -   exit through main door

Room 12 -   exit through main door

Room 13 – exit through fire exit

• All teachers must check the classroom toilet before vacating the room and close the door behind them.
• SNA’s help with evacuating their own assigned classroom at that time.
• The fire assembly area is in the yard; each class has an allocated station.
• Children in resource/language rooms must go with their Resource/Language teacher to line number 2 on the main yard.
• Teachers to take the roll book of their individual class and calls it.     
• Resource/language teacher returns children to their allocated class line once all lines have formed.
• All teachers must check the classroom toilet before vacating the room and close the door behind them.
• Mrs Mc Mahon (school Principal) will check with each teacher that children are all present.
• Pupils return to the school premises only when all the clear has been given by fire services.
• Fire drill is carried out once a term.

 

 

Role and responsibilities

All teachers are responsible for the safety and well being of the pupils in their care. The Principal has the overall responsibility for ensuring proper procedures are in place. Fire drill schedules are part of the post of responsibility within the In-School management structure of Scoil Naomh Eoin.

Evaluation

• Maintaining safety standards
• Achieving a co-ordinated and orderly evacuation in the safest time possible
• Yearly reviews

 

References

Fires safety in the home – National safety council

Fire safety in the school – National safety Council