Fire Drill- shoe or not to shoe?

**clairer** · 05-11-2013, 10:44 AM

Fire drills- do you let the children stop to put their shoes on? Or do they go out in their socks or slippers?

**Koala** · 05-11-2013, 10:59 AM

Is it raining?

Would you go out without shoes?

If there is a fire - no question - just go, but if its a drill - maybe pick a nice day for it and double risk assess for stocking feet beforehand if thats what you think is best. I would probably just make sure everyone has something on their feet beforehand.

Instead of stopping to put shoes on

**mama2three** · 05-11-2013, 11:04 AM

So you've identified that they wouldn't want to be outside without shoes on. If there was a real fire what would you do? That's the purpose of drills to know how you would all manage in a real situation.
Maybe keep a stock of cheap slippers / wellies in your car boot / shed as an option for when you may need to leave without footwear. Or maybe theres a solution that would work better for you and your mix of children. for example tots wouldn't need shoes if you could pop them in a buggy.
I wouldn't do a shoeless drill as Ive already identified it as a problem. Id think of a solution and then do a drill to test it out.

**rickysmiths** · 05-11-2013, 12:27 PM

No shoes whatever the weather.

You wouldn't stop to put them on if there was a fire and this is how you should practice. Part of my evacuation is that I will put the minded children in the car and run it off the drive to allow the emergency services in. I have a bag in the car with socks, space blankets, biscuits, water, a carton of long life milk and if I have a younger baby a platex bottle with the disposable liners and cartons of formula. In the winter I add several fleece blankets to the boot and a spade. I have also been thinking about investing in a small kettle that plugs into the cig socket so I could warm up baby milk or make a warm cup of tea.

**hectors house** · 05-11-2013, 12:30 PM

I warn the parents that if the children come home and say they went outside in the rain without their shoes on then it means we practised the fire evacuation proceedure - in a real fire I don't want to have 3 little ones making a fuss about putting shoes on. I make sure I tell the children on the way out that we haven't got time to put shoes and coats on in case it was a real fire.

**christine e** · 05-11-2013, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by rickysmiths

No shoes whatever the weather.

You wouldn't stop to put them on if there was a fire and this is how you should practice. Part of my evacuation is that I will put the minded children in the car and run it off the drive to allow the emergency services in. I have a bag in the car with socks, space blankets, biscuits, water, a carton of long life milk and if I have a younger baby a platex bottle with the disposable liners and cartons of formula. In the winter I add several fleece blankets to the boot and a spade. I have also been thinking about investing in a small kettle that plugs into the cig socket so I could warm up baby milk or make a warm cup of tea.

Would it be safe to start up a car that was positioned outside a building that was on fire?

**clairer** · 05-11-2013, 12:58 PM

Hmn I must say I thought the same. Sparks and all that.

**hectors house** · 05-11-2013, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by clairer

Hmn I must say I thought the same. Sparks and all that.

I would hope Rickysmiths would have evacuated long before the sparks and flames are on the outside of the house!

The fire engine will need to park close to the house and you never hear of them catching fire.

**rickysmiths** · 05-11-2013, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by christine e

Would it be safe to start up a car that was positioned outside a building that was on fire?

My car isn't that close to the house and in fact the drive has a sufficient enough slope that if I release the brake it will roll back to the road which is 50-70 feet from the house. However I doubt very much that starting the engine would have an effect on an already burning house. The Fire Brigade were happy with my plan when they last did an inspection.

**kellyskidz!** · 05-11-2013, 01:36 PM

I think the car idea is really good, will be loading up other halfs car with emergency supplies when he gets in from work! Also thinking of having a plastic box outside filled with 'Just in case' stuff, nappies, shoes, baby jars etc not only for fire but also if we ever get locked out, or I leave the door on the latch which I'm a b for!
In my case though if there was a real fire I wouldn't even think about their shoes, they'd be out before their feet could touch the ground anyway! Sure parents would rather they have soggy feet than the alternative!

**rickysmiths** · 05-11-2013, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by kellyskidz!

I think the car idea is really good, will be loading up other halfs car with emergency supplies when he gets in from work! Also thinking of having a plastic box outside filled with 'Just in case' stuff, nappies, shoes, baby jars etc not only for fire but also if we ever get locked out, or I leave the door on the latch which I'm a b for!
In my case though if there was a real fire I wouldn't even think about their shoes, they'd be out before their feet could touch the ground anyway! Sure parents would rather they have soggy feet than the alternative!

Oh I like the idea of a box outside though mine would be in my car it might be an idea to have a small one hidden somewhere.

**kellyskidz!** · 05-11-2013, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by rickysmiths

Oh I like the idea of a box outside though mine would be in my car it might be an idea to have a small one hidden somewhere.

I know that's what I'm thinking, as I don't drive and my oh is at work until around 4 so it'd be no good if he was miles always with the box lol, might stash one at the side of the garage, although knowing me I'd forget it was there!

**AdeleMarie88** · 05-11-2013, 02:06 PM

Yes I have an emergency bag outside, it's in my pram shed in the front garden, and in there I have supplies, dried food and long life milk, and 6 pairs of cheap pumps from local charity shop. X

**FussyElmo** · 05-11-2013, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by kellyskidz!

I know that's what I'm thinking, as I don't drive and my oh is at work until around 4 so it'd be no good if he was miles always with the box lol, might stash one at the side of the garage, although knowing me I'd forget it was there!

No use doing a box in the car if you don't drive

Couldn't you do a bag with the basics in by your front or back door?

I don t make the children take their shoes off so its not an issue for me

**kellyskidz!** · 05-11-2013, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by FussyElmo

No use doing a box in the car if you don't drive

Couldn't you do a bag with the basics in by your front or back door?

I don t make the children take their shoes off so its not an issue for me

But we do sometimes use his car on outings if he's got a day off, I'm thinking if we get stranded somewhere its be an idea to have an emergency box with spare clothes and food and maybe some drinks cartons
Then a separate one for outside
I mean I suppose it could go on for ever, have an emergency box at every playgroup we go to lol!

**k-tots** · 05-11-2013, 03:06 PM

Thinking about this. ..might start leavibg the change bag coats and wellys in the car when we have been out as it would have all the emergency stuff in it......thanks for the reminder

**muffins** · 05-11-2013, 04:44 PM

I get why we have emergancy supplies in the car but why hide them in your gardens, with emergancy food, drink, blankets etc??

Ok some of you might live in the sticks but surely most of us have neighbours we could rely on in these situations? I dont have anywhere in my garden I could any such stuff but I do know out of the 20 odd houses in my street at least half of them would be home, willing to help and have some biscuits!

**mrstom** · 05-11-2013, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by muffins

I get why we have emergancy supplies in the car but why hide them in your gardens, with emergancy food, drink, blankets etc??

Ok some of you might live in the sticks but surely most of us have neighbours we could rely on in these situations? I dont have anywhere in my garden I could any such stuff but I do know out of the 20 odd houses in my street at least half of them would be home, willing to help and have some biscuits!

I'm the same. Both sets of my neighbours are home all day (most days) and we have loads of stay at home mums and retired couples on our road. Plus all my mindees parents work no more than 10 mins away so it wouldn't be long before mindees were picked up.

**Daisy1956** · 05-11-2013, 05:18 PM

I think the box is a good idea if no at home near you I'm lucky my daughter lives close by so would go there although I take the point about shoes my find some cheap wellies.

**AdeleMarie88** · 05-11-2013, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by muffins

I get why we have emergancy supplies in the car but why hide them in your gardens, with emergancy food, drink, blankets etc??

Ok some of you might live in the sticks but surely most of us have neighbours we could rely on in these situations? I dont have anywhere in my garden I could any such stuff but I do know out of the 20 odd houses in my street at least half of them would be home, willing to help and have some biscuits!

I only know two sets of neighbours and they leave house at half6am to get to the city, so no use to me, plus I have a basement which I can get to from outside that has an outdoot shed so really easy to store things in there!