An emergency = when something very unexpected has happened, usually something bad, and you have to act quickly to make yourself safe (Something like a fire or flood)

When you’re in a public place like a shopping mall or a cinema, or even at your school, and you hear an emergency alarm, it always means the same thing…get out of the building.

The idea is to get out of the building safely. If you all run, there is more chance of someone falling over, hurting themselves or getting left behind.

It’s always a good idea to make arrangements with your parents or guardians to meet at a certain place in case you get separated when you are out and about. That way, you’re not wandering around looking for each other. But if there is an emergency, you should always meet at the assembly point.

When you hear an alarm, don’t panic. Walk, don’t run out of the building, and most of the time safety wardens will be there to help you.

When you go to a public place, take note of all the exits and assembly areas. It’ll help you get out quicker if you need to.

Amazing facts about escapes:

The USA has so many people in it and so many people with cars that they actually have escape routes planned that give directions to the traffic and suggest which way to go in case of an emergency …have a look : http://www.ibiblio.org/rcip//evacuationroutes.html

Even though evacuation orders had been given and alarms sounded, many people did not leave New Orleans, United States, as Hurricane Katrina approached. Even after the city was flooded and unable to be lived in, some people still refused to leave their homes. The result was lots of people died who didn’t need too…and many rescue workers risked their lives trying to save them….

One of the biggest ‘escapes’ in recent history was when the British Navy, Army and Air Force evacuated over 22,000 people from a country called Lebanon when war was declared there. The British forces used helicopters, planes and even warships to evacuate people to safety.

Probably one of the largest escapes of all time was the evacuation of over 338,226 soldiers who were rescued by over 860 ships of all different types, including fishing ships, in a World War 2 battle at a place called Dunkirk in France. The rescue was so great that it is often referred to as the ‘miracle of little ships’. Constable Bryan’s Grandad was one of the soldiers who was rescued from Dunkirk.  The rescue took place between May 26 and June 4 in 1940.

The word exit comes from the latin word  exire meaning to go out.