Starting a Fire Drill (Web & Mobile)

Overview

Fire Marshals can initiate fire drills to test emergency procedures and ensure all staff know how to evacuate safely. This guide explains how to start a drill using either the web application or mobile app.

Who Can Start Fire Drills

• Fire Marshals
• Site Administrators
• Company Administrators

Only users with these roles will see the fire drill options in their navigation menus.

Before Starting a Fire Drill

Pre-Drill Considerations

Timing:

• Consider the time of day and current activities
• Avoid starting drills during critical business operations unless necessary
• Ensure adequate Fire Marshal coverage is available

Preparation:

• Verify that other Fire Marshals are aware a drill is planned
• Ensure you can access the drill management features
• Check that you're prepared to manage the full drill process

Coordination:

• Only one person needs to start the drill for the entire site
• Multiple Fire Marshals can participate once the drill is active
• Coordinate with colleagues to avoid multiple people starting simultaneously

Starting a Fire Drill via Mobile Application

Step 1: Navigate to Fire Drill Features

Option 1 - Bottom Navigation:

1. Open the Reggie® mobile app
2. Tap the Fire Drills icon in the bottom navigation bar
3. Tap "Start Fire Drill"

Option 2 - More Menu:

1. Open the Reggie® mobile app
2. Tap the "More" tab
3. Tap "Fire Drills" on the drawer menu
4. Tap "Start Fire Drill"

Step 2: Confirm Drill Initiation

1. You'll see a confirmation popup: "Are you ready to start a fire drill?"
2. Two options are presented:
   • "Start Drill" - Begins the fire drill immediately
   • "Cancel" - Returns to the previous screen

Step 3: Drill Activation

1. Tap "Start Drill" to proceed
2. The drill activates immediately for the entire site
3. All checked-in staff and visitors receive push notifications
4. You'll be taken to the drill management interface

Starting a Fire Drill via Web Application

Step 1: Access Fire Drill Features

1. Sign in to https://reggiefiredrill.co.uk
2. Navigate to the main menu
3. Click "Fire Drills"
4. Select "Start Fire Drill"

Step 2: Confirm Drill Initiation

1. You'll see a confirmation popup asking: "Are you ready to start a fire drill?"
2. This popup prevents accidental drill initiation
3. You have two options:
   • "Start Drill" - Begins the fire drill immediately
   • "Cancel" - Returns you to the previous screen without starting

Step 3: Drill Activation

1. Click "Start Drill" to proceed
2. The drill begins immediately across the entire site
3. All checked-in staff and visitors will receive notifications
4. You'll be redirected to the drill management screen

What Happens When You Start a Drill

Immediate System Actions

Notifications sent to:

• All staff currently checked in to the site
• Push notifications go to mobile devices (if app installed and notifications enabled)

System changes:

• Drill status becomes active for the entire site
• All Fire Marshals, Site Administrators, and Company Administrators can access the drill
• Attendee list is generated from current check-ins
• Real-time collaboration begins between participating Fire Marshals

Who Gets Included

Automatically included:

• All staff currently checked in to the site
• All visitors who checked in today using QR codes
• A backup PDF list of current staff may be generated for reference

Not included:

• Staff who are checked out or not checked in
• Staff working from other locations
• Visitors who haven't used the QR code check-in system

Managing the Drill After Starting

Drill Management Interface

After starting, you'll see:

• Attendee list showing everyone who needs to be accounted for
• Filter options to organise the list (Staff only, Visitors only, All, A-Z groups, Teams)
• Status tracking for each person (Present, Offsite, Absent)
• Call buttons to contact individuals if needed

Collaborative Management

Multiple Fire Marshals can:

• Access the same drill simultaneously
• See real-time updates from other Fire Marshals
• Mark attendees as present, offsite, or absent
• View changes made by colleagues instantly

Best practices for collaboration:

• Coordinate who manages which groups or areas
• Avoid duplicating efforts on the same attendees
• Communicate about any issues or missing persons

After Starting a Drill

Your Ongoing Responsibilities

As the drill initiator:

• Continue managing the drill until completion
• Ensure all attendees are accounted for
• Answer the final drill questions
• Submit the drill completion

Shared responsibilities:

• Any participating Fire Marshal can mark attendance
• Work together to account for everyone efficiently
• Support colleagues in managing difficult situations

Drill Completion Process

When everyone is accounted for:

1. Click "View Summary" to review attendance
2. Answer the required drill questions
3. Add any additional notes
4. Click "End Drill" to complete the process

After completion:

• All participating Fire Marshals see the summary screen
• PDF report is automatically generated
• Normal operations can resume
• Staff receive confirmation that the drill has ended

Common Issues When Starting Drills

Problem: Can't Find Start Fire Drill Option

Possible causes:

• You don't have Fire Marshal, Site Administrator, or Company Administrator role
• You're looking in the wrong menu section

Solutions:

1. Check your user role with your Site Administrator
2. Look in the main navigation menu for "Fire Drills"
3. Contact Reggie® support via live chat if the option should be available

Problem: "Start Drill" Button Not Working

Solutions:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Refresh the web page or restart the mobile app
3. Try using the alternative platform (web if mobile fails, mobile if web fails)
4. Contact Reggie® support via live chat if issues persist

Problem: Accidental Drill Initiation

Important: Once a drill is started, it cannot be cancelled or aborted

• You must complete the full drill process
• Mark everyone as present, offsite, or absent
• Answer the drill questions and end the drill properly
• Use this as a learning opportunity for future planning

Problem: No Staff Showing in Drill

Possible causes:

• No one is currently checked in to the site
• System connectivity issues
• Check-in data hasn't synchronised

Solutions:

1. Verify that staff are actually checked in
2. Check with colleagues about their check-in status
3. Use backup manual procedures if necessary
4. Contact Reggie® support via live chat for technical issues

Best Practices for Starting Drills

Planning and Timing

Consider these factors:

• Time of day and staff availability
• Important meetings or business activities
• Weather conditions for outdoor assembly
• Availability of other Fire Marshals to assist

Communication

Before starting:

• Inform other Fire Marshals that you're planning to start a drill
• Ensure adequate coverage for managing the drill
• Consider notifying key stakeholders if appropriate

During the drill:

• Work collaboratively with other Fire Marshals
• Communicate clearly with staff during evacuation
• Coordinate efficiently to minimise disruption

Safety Considerations

Remember the purpose:

• Drills are for safety training and compliance
• Take every drill seriously, even routine ones
• Use drills to identify and address safety issues
• Focus on emergency preparedness, not just completion

Documentation

After each drill:

• Review the generated PDF report
• Note any issues or improvements needed
• Share findings with Site Administrators
• Use results to improve future emergency procedures

Emergency vs Drill Designation

Recording the Event Type

During drill completion, you'll specify:

• Fire Drill - Practice evacuation
• Real Fire - Actual emergency response

Why This Matters

• Compliance reporting requires accurate categorisation
• Real emergencies have different analysis requirements
• Training records differentiate between practice and actual events
• Insurance and safety audits use this information

Important: Starting a fire drill is a significant responsibility. Once initiated, you must see the process through to completion. Plan accordingly and ensure you're prepared to manage the full drill procedure.