School fire safety isn't just for Fire Prevention Week. Year-round attention is needed to eliminate hazards and provide for safe evacuation.

When it comes to fire safety in schools, people tend to think of "that week" in October (a.k.a. Fire Prevention Week) and periodic fire drills. This may be, in part, because fires in schools are rare. This strong record of fire and life safety is no accident. In fact, the low incidence of school fires is largely due to the requirements found in the National Fire Protection Association's Life Safety Code[R] (NFPA 101), and to the vigilance of teachers, administrators, and code enforcers who identify and address items that affect the overall fire safety of such facilities. Compiled mainly from NFPA 101's requirements for educational occupancies, the following are 10 basic but vital tips to ensure continued fire safety in schools.

1 Fire Drills

Practice, practice, practice. Fire drills are an essential component of the overall fire safety program in any school building and must be reinforced through practice. NFPA 101 requires that fire exit drills be conducted every month during the school year. If a school is located in an area where weather prohibits monthly fire drills, NFPA 101 requires that they be rescheduled as necessary.

Make them unexpected, and to be fair to all classes, fire drills should be conducted at varying hours of the day, and should not be limited to class time only. It is appropriate and important that students and staff practice evacuation during any possible event that could occur in the facility. These special times could include assemblies, change of classes, or even recess. Students should know and practice what to do, while the staff should practice how to establish control and provide direction. Part of the drill should include the search of ancillary rooms such as restrooms to ensure that all students are accounted for.

Unfortunately, fire drills may interrupt classes. This has led to occasions where teachers have delayed or even prohibited the evacuation of students, due to tests or the assumption that the sounding alarm is just a drill. This lack of response is extremely dangerous. Fire drills are a highly valuable preparation tool for any emergency situation that requires building evacuation. Teachers must demonstrate to students that sounding fire alarms should be taken seriously at all times and should instruct them to exit the building immediately. Not responding to fire alarms also exposes the school facility and the individual to possible legal action.