How a Fire Drill is Conducted at a Korean High School

Fire drills are important because they teach people how to survive.  But what about fires in foreign countries?  Are the fires different?  No.  Fire is the same everywhere.  But the fire drills are not.  Here's how the fires drills go at my school.

Step 1: Announce to the students that we will have a fire drill.  This part is stupid because then the kids don't take the drill seriously.  I suggested to my vice principal that we stop doing this part.  He said he liked that idea.  We will see next year if that happens or not.

Step 2: Have students stand in a loosely organized area away from the building.

Step 3: Have students watch other students put out a pre-created mini fire.

These two boys save lives!

Step 4: Have students watch as fire trucks spray water over the top of the school building.  No, the building is not on fire.

Multiple emergency vehicles present.

Step 5: Have students observe teachers using a fire hose.

Step 6: Lecture students for not taking the fire drill seriously.  Even though you basically set them up for failure.

Step 7: Have teachers be taught by the fire marshal how to use the fire extinguishers.

Bonus step!: Have the teachers get lectured by the fire marshal because the fire extinguishers are 13 years old and expired. No clue on if these were updated or not.

And that's it! A typical Korean high school fire drill.  We do about 2 a year.  I desperately hope that we change them for next year.  And that there is never an actual fire.