Fire Drills

Fire Drills in Hong Kong do not only apply to schools, firms, factories, but also to hospitals. As the new extension block of Prince of Wales Hospital has been built, furnished and ready to serve, fire drills are common in recent days. Take for example, on October 6, several fire engines arrived at 10:42 a.m. to start a fire drill at the newly-built hospital block.

I saw the ladder of one elongated to level 4 as if it were an arm stretching out during morning exercise. The raising of the ladder was fast. Some fire hoses had been connected and water flow checked. Firemen seemed relaxed during the practices since it was only a drill. I think drills in this manner are necessary because firemen have to learn where to find water sources and get used to the floor plan of the hospital.

Night fire drills repeat themselves regularly this week. Once there is one, red lights twinkles through the windows at the “affected” floors so that firemen from outside know where to go.

It was strange to find the school opposite the new hospital also had a fire drill immediately after the fire-engines left. Students of the school walked slowly from different corners of the school to assemble at the open courtyard. There was not a moment of excitement to the students and teachers. All knew that it was just a fire drill after all.