The way people react in the event of a fire can be one of the most important factors in determining what eventually happens. To improve the outcome, it’s helpful to look at human behaviour, what reactions can be a risk to life, and then at how these can be changed.

Delayed reaction

It’s vital to react promptly in the event of a fire alarm. Mistaking the siren for a false alarm can be a cause of delay and many people also wait for instructions rather than taking immediate action.

Herd mentality

In stressful situations, people are unsure how to react and simply follow the actions of others, which can lead to panic and cause chaos.

What can be done to change the behaviour of people during a fire?

There are things we can do to try to change behaviour in the event of a fire, improving the reactions and the chances of a positive outcome.

Ensure reliability of systems

If the fire alarm system frequently triggers incorrectly, people can become complacent and fail to react when there actually is a fire. It’s vital to have a reliable, correctly functioning system, and if looking for fire alarms Northamptonshire, for example, consider https://firealarmsystems.co.uk/.

Preparation

Make sure you are following fire safety guidelines and have prepared fire safety and evacuation plans, which show escape routes, exits etc.

Practise procedures

It’s crucial to regularly implement fire safety training for staff or residents. If people are familiar with procedures, they are better able to react in an emergency.