As kindergarteners, we all remember the fire drills. They involved stopping our class time and running outside, where we would line up single file and be counted off by a teacher. Other times, we would stop, drop, a roll as if our clothes had gone up in flame. Even places of employment, classrooms, and college dorms may issue a spontaneous to make sure everyone knows how to exit the building in the case of this disaster. While most times we never experience a real fire, there's a reason that drills and fire escapes are set in place. Many times, people panic in the face of a catastrophe, and without drills or guided exits people may not be able to make their way out of a burning building.

The federal government knows that people may need to rehearse their escape in case of a fire, and have outlined a very specific code the institutions and businesses need to adhere to. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration require that most employers provide emergency exit routes which can be accessed in case of a fire. Most places are also required to document an emergency action plan (EAP,) and create a fire prevention plan (FPP.) They should also create precautions which would protect employees from a fire, such as overhead sprinkler systems and smoke alarms.

Most times, employers are not required by law to practice fire drills. However, they are required to post the exiting procedure somewhere in the building where it is easy to read, and to inform employees of an escape plan in case of a fire. Some employees must be trained to supervise any evacuations and get everyone out of the building before exiting themselves. Schools are under another code of law than employers are, and are required to practice drills and plan out exits in case of a fire. By law, a school is a public or private facility that offers elementary or secondary education to people under the age of 21. The facility must be owned and operated by the state or a unit of the local government.

A private facility is any sort of non-profit, non-home-based, or non-public facility of elementary or secondary education. All of these schools are required to perform safety drills. Most often, the schools must have at least one spontaneous evacuation drill per school year, which can prepare children for the possibility of an emergency. The students are taught how to exit the building, and how to group themselves for a head count once outside. Many times students must also practice a bus evacuation drill, in case the vehicle crashes or catches on fire while the children are aboard.

Many times, the fire department is involved in these school fire drills. The fire department or district must contact the school administrator before September 1^st to organize their involvement in the school evacuation. In Illinois, for example, each school administrator is required to contact the responding local fire officials by September 15^th to propose four dates for a fire drill within the month of October. Then, the fire official can choose one of the available dates for that month. Even in rare occasions where the fire drill is waived, schools are encouraged to perform a fire drill to help children learn how to respond in a dangerous decision.

If your work place is not equipped with fire safety measures, or your school does not practice drills and teach children how to exit the building in the event of a fire, then there can be grave consequences. If you or someone that you love has been injured in a fire because you were not taught proper evacuation protocol or your building does not adhere to the federal fire code, then you should contact a personal injury lawyer. The government is adamant that business and educational facilities practice fire safety in order to avoid serious injuries and deaths from fires. When these institutions are not able to uphold their end of the bargain, then it can become a serious legal issue. Make sure to notify the authorities and a personal injury lawyer of your situation.