1. EVACUATION! Understanding Behavioral Aspects of Emergency Response in Individuals David R. Blossom, ALCM, CFPS, CIF1 Sr. Consultant—Amerisure PCG

2. Sponsored By: Fire Protection Branch Engineering Practice Specialty

3. David R. Blossom Sr. Consultant— Amerisure PCG Sr. Consultant— Amerisure PCG Past President ASSE CFC Past President ASSE CFC NFPA Technical Committee Principal Member 80A & 1620 NFPA Technical Committee Principal Member 80A & 1620 Orange County, FL Orange County, FL City of Orlando, FL City of Orlando, FL ALCM, CFPS, CFI1 ALCM, CFPS, CFI1

4. WHY?

5. “The period between detection and the arrival of the fire department is the most crucial life saving period in terms of the first compartment” “The period between detection and the arrival of the fire department is the most crucial life saving period in terms of the first compartment” The response to fire alarm bells and sounders tends to be less than optimum. The response to fire alarm bells and sounders tends to be less than optimum.

6. Why This Topic? Revelation—Challenged 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 ” “ 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 Neil Townsend Divisional Fire Officer Divisional Fire Officer London Fire Brigade London Fire Brigade

7. Why This Topic? We must understand how people react. We must understand how people react. This will allow us to— This will allow us to— Anticipate challenges Conduct Effective Planning Avoid evacuation problems Provide effective training Save more lives

8. SHAPING INCIDENTS Triangle Shirtwaist Triangle Shirtwaist Cocoanut Grove Cocoanut Grove Ringling Circus Ringling Circus Beverly Hills Supper Club Beverly Hills Supper Club Our Lady of Angles Our Lady of Angles MGM Grand MGM Grand DuPont Plaza DuPont Plaza World Trade Center World Trade Center The Station The Station

9. New York 1911

10. Boston-1942

11. Ringling Circus--1944

12. Our Lady of Angels--1958

13. Beverly Hills Supper Club--1977

14. MGM Grand--1980

15. WTC 1993 & 2001

16. The Station--2003

17. IMPACT Incident driven Incident driven Code changes Code changes Behavioral understanding Behavioral understanding Conflict between codes and behavior Conflict between codes and behavior Missing Parts Missing Parts “One Size Fits All” “One Size Fits All”

18. How We React

19. Incident Perception Recognition Recognition Validation Validation Definition Definition Evaluation Evaluation Commitment Commitment Reassessment Reassessment

20. RECOGNITION Identification of cues Identification of cues Elements of notification Elements of notification How we first become aware How we first become aware Prior personal experience a factor Prior personal experience a factor Threat recognition Threat recognition Often cues must be overwhelming Often cues must be overwhelming

21. Event Recognition Event recognition Event recognition Different recognition/same event Different recognition/same event Different response/same recognition Different response/same recognition Key elements Key elements Individualized Factors Individualized Factors

22. Recognition Complete What Next???

23. Movement from realization to reaction

24. VALIDATION Validate the initial cues Validate the initial cues Ambiguity = more information Ambiguity = more information More information = delay in response More information = delay in response Reassurance of the situation Reassurance of the situation Action not taken yet--confirmation Action not taken yet--confirmation

25. DEFINITION Relating information to the individual Relating information to the individual Just what are we experiencing Just what are we experiencing Correct identification of the incident Correct identification of the incident Proximity and magnitude Proximity and magnitude Lack of definition = increased stress Lack of definition = increased stress Personalization of the threat Personalization of the threat Most stress before definition occurs Most stress before definition occurs Structure and interpretation to define Structure and interpretation to define

26. EVALUATION Understanding the situation Understanding the situation Necessary to develop response Necessary to develop response Development of strategies Development of strategies Initial decision making Initial decision making Putting it all together Putting it all together Formulating a response Formulating a response Initiating response Initiating response

27. COMMITMENT Initiate the behavioral response Initiate the behavioral response Formulated in the evaluation process Formulated in the evaluation process Results in the active response Results in the active response To a perceived threat To a perceived threat Results: completion, partial completion, non-completion of response strategy. Results: completion, partial completion, non-completion of response strategy.

28. NON-COMPLETION RESULTS Reassessment Reassessment Commitment Commitment

29. REASSESSMENT Most stressful Most stressful Failure of previous attempts Failure of previous attempts Increased intensity Increased intensity Less selective response Less selective response

30. SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME Commitment / Reassessment Commitment / Reassessment Rapid decrease in anxiety Rapid decrease in anxiety Reassurance Reassurance

31. SUCCESSIVE FAILURES Increased anxiety Increased anxiety Frustration Frustration Probability of success decreases Probability of success decreases Increased potential for panic Increased potential for panic Alternatives decrease Alternatives decrease Less responsive Less responsive More reactive More reactive

32. PANIC Is Panic bad? Is Panic bad? What is Panic? What is Panic? What causes Panic? What causes Panic? Is Panic Good? Is Panic Good?

33. 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.

34. NONADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR Panic Behavior Panic Behavior Reentry Behavior Reentry Behavior Rescue Rescue

35. EVIDENCE SUPPORTS THIS Multiple studies Multiple studies Panic often not a factor Panic often not a factor Should have been Should have been Understanding Understanding

36. FIRE STUDY RESULTS Panic is very rare Panic is very rare Central motivation—seek information Central motivation—seek information Often a social response Often a social response Problems encountered during “normal” building use will be exacerbated during an emergency. Problems encountered during “normal” building use will be exacerbated during an emergency.

37. REALITY—WHAT WE DO Investigate conditions Investigate conditions Compare with experiences Compare with experiences Decide on action(s) Decide on action(s) NOT “code” related NOT “code” related Familiar entry routes most often selected Familiar entry routes most often selected

38. We’re Only Human “ 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” “ 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

39. What Next? That is up to each of you That is up to each of you

40. Questions? Thank you!