Evacuation simulation: a family exercise
Why is this essential?
You have your Evakit. You’ve defined a rallying point. Now it’s time to put your preparedness to the test. An evacuation simulation is the equivalent of a home fire drill. It turns theory into practice and helps everyone develop the right reflexes, without panicking.
Here’s how to organize a fun and effective simulation with your family.
Step 1: The scenario, the surprise that sets the stage
One of the main obstacles in an emergency situation is the element of surprise. For your simulation, don’t tell the family. Choose a time when everyone is busy: during dinner, in the morning before school, or during an afternoon of play.
The warning signal: Trigger the start of the exercise with an unusual sound signal. This can be a specific alarm on your phone, a whistle, or simply a clear phrase like “Alert, this is a simulation!”. The aim is to grab everyone’s attention immediately.
Stage 2: Gathering, immediate action
As soon as the alarm sounds, every member of the family needs to know what to do. The aim is to be in possession of your Evakit emergency bag as quickly as possible.
Time limit: Set yourself a time target for the evacuation (e.g. 2 minutes for everyone to be ready).
Everyone’s role: Define simple roles: “Who looks after the Evakit?” “Who checks that the cat is safe? This minimizes confusion and gives everyone a sense of responsibility.
Bag practice: Ask everyone to pick up the Evakit bag and go to the designated gathering point in the house, ready to go.
Stage 3: Departure and evacuation to the rallying point
Once everyone is ready and the bag is in hand, it’s time to head for your outdoor rallying point.
The route: Follow your planned escape route, even if it’s the usual one. The trick is to do it quickly and in an organized way.
Obstacles: Beforehand, you can create small obstacles to make the simulation more realistic: simulate a blocked corridor to force someone to use another exit, or ask someone to move without light (by closing their eyes).
Step 4: Debriefing, the moment of truth
Once you’ve completed the exercise, get together for a family debriefing. This is the most important step, as it allows you to learn from your mistakes.
Questions to ask:
“What went well?”
“Where did we waste time?”
“Is there anything we missed or forgot?”
Encourage everyone, especially children, to have their say. This will make the process more transparent and give them a sense of being an integral part of the plan.
IN SUMMARY:
Training shouldn’t be a source of anxiety, but of confidence. Evacuation simulation is an essential step in transforming your plan into a lifesaving reflex.
Repeat the exercise regularly, and you’ll be ready to face any situation, together.
