Page 20 - Group Leader Handbook

Fire Safety

While fires are rare, their effects are devastating, so all centres must have effective procedures in place for both reducing the
risk of fire and managing any fire emergency, working alongside the host venue. It is the responsibility of the Centre Manager to
ensure that these procedures are implemented before any students arrive and are actively carried out throughout the course.

Fire Prevention

Inductions
All staff, students and GLs will receive an induction to the school and their accommodation building which will include a sum-
mary of fire of risks and what to do in case of a fire.
Potential fire risks

All staff and Group Leaders are asked to actively look out for potential fire risks and either stop them or report them to the Cen-
tre Manager. Key things to look out for are:
 Any sign of smoking e.g. the smell of smoke, cigarette butts, socks/plastic bags on smoke alarms. These things must be re-
ported to the Centre Manager immediately.
 Naked flames e.g. playing with lighters, carrying candles/incense burners. Confiscate them or ask the GL to look after them.

 Hair straighteners/tongs – students sometimes rest them on carpet/soft furnishings or leave them turned on when they
leave the room. This is a common cause of very expensive damages, which the student/group will be charged for.

 Misused fire extinguishers. If an extinguisher has been discharged fully, or even if the seal has been broken, the extinguisher
might not work in the event of a fire and it will have to be replaced (the students will be charged).
 Fire doors being propped open

 Obstructions in the corridors/fire exits – they must remain clear at all times
 Any potential electrical/maintenance fault

Fire Drills

Fire Drills are an important part of our emergency preparations and all centres will conduct weekly fire drills in both accommo-
dation and classroom buildings. Normally a drill would be carried out without warning, but Group Leaders will be briefed on
their role beforehand.
Note: All alarm activations (scheduled or not) must be treated with the same seriousness as if it were an actual fire.

What to do in the event of a fire

 Take charge of the people around you – remember you are looking after students who will follow your lead
 Activate the alarm so that others know there is an emergency
 The designated person will call the fire brigade

 The adults in the building (staff and GLs) should evacuate everyone from the building
 Gather all the students together at the evacuation point and keep them there until you receive the all-clear or are told to
move them by management/emergency services. Don’t let anyone wander off!
 Take a roll call/register – if anyone is missing you must report it to the fire marshal immediately so that they can look for
them or report them missing to the emergency services

Note: You are not required to fight the fire unless it is necessary to the evacuation and your priority should always be to ensure
your own safety and that of the students in your care.

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