Transcript EVACUATION! - American Society of Safety Engineers

EVACUATION!
Understanding Behavioral
Aspects of Emergency
Response in Individuals
David R. Blossom, ALCM, CFPS, CIF1
Sr. Consultant—Amerisure PCG
Why This Topic?
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Revelation—Challenged
“I think that when people die in fires it’s not
because of panic, it’s more likely to be the lack
of panic”
Neil Townsend
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Divisional Fire Officer
London Fire Brigade
Why This Topic?
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We must understand how people
react.
This will allow us to—
Anticipate challenges
Conduct Effective Planning
Avoid evacuation problems
Provide effective training
Save more lives
How We React
Incident Perception
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Recognition
Validation
Definition
Evaluation
Commitment
Reassessment
RECOGNITION
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Identification of cues
Elements of notification
How we first become aware
Prior personal experience a factor
Threat recognition
Often cues must be overwhelming
Event Recognition
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Event recognition
Different
recognition/same
event
Different
response/same
recognition
Key elements
Individualized
Factors
Recognition Complete
What Next???
Movement from realization to
reaction
VALIDATION
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Validate the initial cues
Ambiguity = more information
More information = delay in response
Reassurance of the situation
Action not taken yet--confirmation
DEFINITION
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Relating information to the individual
Just what are we experiencing
Correct identification of the incident
Proximity and magnitude
Lack of definition = increased stress
Personalization of the threat
Most stress before definition occurs
Structure and interpretation to define
EVALUATION
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Understanding the situation
Necessary to develop response
Development of strategies
Initial decision making
Putting it all together
Formulating a response
Initiating response
COMMITMENT
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Initiate the behavioral response
Formulated in the evaluation process
Results in the active response
To a perceived threat
Results: completion, partial
completion, non-completion of
response strategy.
NON-COMPLETION RESULTS
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Reassessment
Commitment
REASSESSMENT
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Most stressful
Failure of previous attempts
Increased intensity
Less selective response
SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME
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Commitment /
Reassessment
Rapid decrease in
anxiety
Reassurance
SUCCESSIVE FAILURES
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Increased anxiety
Frustration
Probability of success decreases
Increased potential for panic
Alternatives decrease
Less responsive
More reactive
PANIC
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Is Panic bad?
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What is Panic?
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What causes Panic?
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Is Panic Good?
PANIC BEHAVIOR
A fear-induced flight behavior which is
non-rational, non-adaptive, and
nonsocial, which serves to reduce the
escape possibilities of the group as a
whole.
Flight or fleeing behavioral response
that also involves extravagant and
injudicious effort.
NONADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR
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Panic Behavior
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Reentry Behavior
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Rescue
EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THIS
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Multiple studies
Panic often not a factor
Should have been
Understanding
FIRE STUDY RESULTS
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Panic is very rare
Central motivation—seek information
Often a social response
Problems encountered during
“normal” building use will be
exacerbated during an emergency.
REALITY—WHAT WE DO
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Investigate
conditions
Compare with
experiences
Decide on action(s)
NOT “code” related
Familiar entry
routes most often
selected
We’re Only Human
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“You must think about people’s reactions to a
fire in terms of the three basic stages of making
sense of what’s going on, preparing to act and
then acting”
David Carter
Professor, Liverpool University