It’s just a drill, drill, drill!
At 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning, my voice interrupted the usual VVA classroom routines. “FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!” I yelled and then blew the ear-splitting whistle three times. I kept on yelling and blowing the whistle for three minutes. As our students and teachers calmly evacuated the school building, I checked each classroom, bathroom and closet to ensure the building was completely evacuated.
The students, teachers, administration, and staff gathered at the “Assembly Point” on the grass in front of the school building to await the “All Clear” announcement. After verifying that everyone safely exited the building, I proudly gave the “All Clear” and congratulated all on our first successful “Fire Drill.”
Fire Drills are important because students and teachers must know the proper way to react in the event of a fire. Any emergency situation can be scary and cause panic, especially in young children. However, if you’ve practiced the scenario, you can react with confidence, ensuring the safety of yourself and those around you. Additional emergency scenarios such as an earthquake, and a lockdown will be practiced by teachers and students in the future.
~ Julie Reagan
