Fire drill is an exercise to teach people to leave a place safely and speedily if fire breaks out. Without the practice a fire drill provides, people may become frightened and confused when they have to leave a burning area. Fire drills are important exercises at home, work, and school. In public buildings and many businesses, signs tell people the escape routes for the building. Fire drills are also practiced on ships and at such places as airports and oil refineries.
Many states have laws that require regular school fire drills.
In most schools, each classroom has directional signs. Signs and red lights in halls show the nearest exit for children who are not in a classroom when the fire bell rings. When the alarm is given, the teacher sees that the class leaves the school in a quiet, orderly manner. Studies show that families that practice fire drills at home are better prepared to save their lives when a fire occurs there. Fire prevention authorities have developed a program called Exit Drills in the Home.