Answering Fire Drill Questions and Ending a Drill

Overview

Once all attendees have been accounted for during a fire drill, the lead Fire Marshal must answer drill questions and officially end the drill. This process creates the final drill report and allows everyone to return to normal operations. Please note the timer stops once the last person has been accounted for. The time it takes to locate all attendees will be included on the drill report PDF.

Who Can End Fire Drills

While multiple Fire Marshals can collaborate during a drill, only the lead Fire Marshal should answer the final questions and submit the drill completion. The lead Fire Marshal's name will appear on the official drill report.

When to Complete a Fire Drill

Prerequisites for Ending

Before you can end a drill, ensure:

• All attendees have been marked with a status (Present, Offsite, or Absent)
• Any missing persons have been accounted for or appropriate action taken
• All Fire Marshals agree the headcount is complete and accurate
• You're prepared to answer the required questions about the drill

Viewing the Summary

1. Click "View Summary" to review attendance before completion
2. Check that every person has been assigned a status
3. Verify the attendance numbers make sense
4. Confirm with other Fire Marshals if working collaboratively

Fire Drill Questions

Standard Questions

Every drill includes these default questions:

"Was this a fire drill or real fire?" (Required)

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

"Notes" (Required)

• Text area for additional information about the drill
• Include any issues, observations, or important details
• Note any attendees who were difficult to locate
• Record any procedural problems or suggestions for improvement

Custom Questions (If Configured)

Your organisation may have additional questions such as:

"Were there any obstructions to exit routes?" (Yes/No)

• Shown only if you selected "Fire Drill" (not for real fire events)
• If "Yes" is selected, you'll see: "Describe obstructions to exit routes" (text field)

"Was this a special event?" (Optional checkbox)

• May be available depending on your organisation's configuration
• Used for categorising different types of drills or events

Question Types

Radio buttons - Select one option from multiple choices
Checkboxes - Optional items that can be selected or left blank
Text areas - Free text for detailed notes and explanations

Answering Questions Effectively

For "Fire Drill or Real Fire"

Select "Fire Drill" for:

• Planned practice evacuations
• Training exercises
• Compliance testing
• Routine safety drills

Select "Real Fire" for:

• Actual fire emergencies
• Smoke detection activations
• Real safety threats that triggered evacuation

Writing Effective Notes

Include information about:

• Overall drill performance and timing
• Any attendees who were difficult to locate
• Issues with evacuation routes or procedures
• Problems with equipment or systems
• Suggestions for improving future drills
• Weather or environmental factors that affected the drill

Example notes:

• "Drill completed successfully. Two staff were initially unaccounted for but were found to have left early for appointments."
• "Exit route through north stairwell was partially blocked by maintenance equipment. Facilities team notified."
• "Visitor check-in system worked well - all visitors accounted for quickly."

Custom Question Guidelines

For obstruction questions:

• Answer honestly about any impediments to evacuation
• Describe specific locations and types of obstructions
• Include actions taken to address the problems
• Consider safety implications and urgency of resolution

For special event questions:

• Use for drills during unusual circumstances
• Mark for training sessions with external personnel
• Indicate when drills coincide with special events or conditions

Completing the Drill

Step-by-Step Completion Process

1. Review the summary to ensure all attendees are accounted for
2. Answer all required questions completely and accurately
3. Add comprehensive notes about the drill experience
4. Click "End Drill" to complete the process
5. Confirm submission when prompted

What Happens Upon Completion

Immediate actions:

• All participating Fire Marshals are redirected to the summary screen
• PDF drill report is automatically generated
• Normal operations can resume
• Staff are informed the drill has ended

System updates:

• Drill status changes from active to completed
• Attendance data is finalised and saved
• Report becomes available for download and sharing
• Drill records are updated for compliance purposes

Post-Drill Summary Screen

Available Actions

On the summary screen, you can:

• Download PDF report - Complete drill documentation
• Share report - Send via email or other methods
• Review attendance data - See final headcount information
• View drill details - Timing, questions answered, and notes

PDF Report Contents

The generated report includes:

• Drill date, time, and duration
• Lead Fire Marshal name (person who ended the drill)
• Complete attendee list with final status
• Answers to all drill questions
• Notes and observations
• Summary statistics and timing information

Collaborative Drill Management

Multiple Fire Marshal Coordination

During the drill:

• Multiple Fire Marshals can mark attendance simultaneously
• Real-time updates keep everyone coordinated
• All participants can see the same information

At completion:

• Only one person should answer questions and end the drill
• Coordinate with colleagues about who will be the lead
• Ensure the lead Fire Marshal has complete information
• Other Fire Marshals will see the summary after completion

Information Gathering for Questions

Before answering questions, consult with other Fire Marshals about:

• Any issues they encountered during the drill
• Problems with evacuation routes or procedures
• Feedback from staff or observations about the process
• Suggestions for improving future drills

Common Completion Issues

Problem: Can't Access "End Drill" Button

Possible causes:

• Not all attendees have been marked with status
• System connectivity issues
• Browser or app technical problems

Solutions:

1. Check that every person on the list has a status assigned
2. Refresh the page or restart the app
3. Ensure stable internet connection
4. Contact Reggie® support via live chat if issues persist

Problem: Required Questions Not Showing

Solutions:

1. Scroll down to ensure you can see all questions
2. Check that you've answered all previous required questions
3. Refresh the page if questions aren't loading
4. Try the alternative platform (web if using mobile, mobile if using web)

Problem: Can't Submit Completion

Troubleshooting steps:

1. Verify all required fields are completed
2. Check internet connectivity
3. Try submitting again after a few moments
4. Use alternative platform if available
5. Contact Reggie® support via live chat for technical assistance

Problem: Report Not Generated

If PDF doesn't appear:

1. Wait a few moments for report generation
2. Check download folder or notifications
3. Try downloading again from summary screen
4. Contact Reggie® support via live chat if report fails to generate

Best Practices for Drill Completion

Thorough Documentation

Comprehensive notes help:

• Identify patterns across multiple drills
• Improve safety procedures over time
• Meet compliance documentation requirements
• Provide valuable feedback for training purposes

Accurate Question Responses

Answer questions based on:

• Direct observation during the drill
• Input from other Fire Marshals
• Factual information rather than assumptions
• Complete and honest assessment of the drill

Timely Completion

Complete drills promptly:

• Don't delay ending once everyone is accounted for
• Staff are waiting to return to normal operations
• Extended drill times can impact business operations
• Prompt completion shows respect for everyone's time

Follow-Up Actions

After completing the drill:

• Share report with relevant stakeholders
• Address any safety issues identified during the drill
• Follow up on procedural improvements suggested
• Use findings to enhance future emergency preparedness

Compliance and Record Keeping

Legal Requirements

Fire drill documentation:

• May be required by local fire safety regulations
• Provides evidence of compliance with safety standards
• Creates historical record of emergency preparedness
• Supports insurance and safety audit requirements

Report Retention

PDF reports should be:

• Saved to appropriate company records
• Shared with relevant management
• Kept accessible for regulatory inspections
• Used for safety training and improvement planning

Important: Completing a fire drill thoroughly and accurately ensures valuable safety data is captured and demonstrates your organisation's commitment to emergency preparedness. Take time to provide complete, honest answers that will help improve future safety procedures.