Fire drill

High school (ages 12+)
Safety & Emergency

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/fire-drill

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary function?To simulate emergency conditions for practicing evacuation procedures
2. What is the historical context?Evolved with increasing building complexity and population density
3. Why do we do fire drills in schools and offices?Fire drills help people remember the safest exits and rules, so if a real fire happens, everyone can leave quickly and safely. They also let managers check that exits and alarms work.
4. How do we know when a fire drill starts?A fire drill starts when the building’s fire alarm system sounds. The alarm can be triggered by smoke detectors, heat detectors, or a manual pull station.

Egress: The action of going out of or leaving a place; a means of exiting.
Phased Evacuation: A strategy where occupants evacuate in stages, typically floor by floor, to manage congestion.
Defend-in-Place: An emergency strategy where occupants remain in their current location, which is made safe.