> >I have to disagree. Fire alarms are blunt instruments. There can be and are emergency situations that do not require dumping an entire building, and where doing so can only add to the problem. Most common is a medical emergency, where you need to get specialists IN quickly to a specific location.

I agree with this sentiment - fire alarms are blunt instruments. But emergencies are also.

Whether dumping the building makes the situation worse will depend on how large and diverse the building is - I have experienced those situations as well. This is where the local emergency planning, training and coordination process become so important. Too often, institutions rely on the training people get in kindergarten to "Never Touch a Fire Alarm!” to avoid dumping the building, but this also can lead to SOS calls that come in much later than is optimal.

Here at a small liberal arts college, I am able to provide training goes beyond that; it is much more difficult on more complex campuses or in larger buildings. In emergencies, like PPE, one size does not fit all.. ;)

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
ralph**At_Symbol_Here**rstuartcih.org

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