3 ms·

> It's not like there's visible smoke or flames. I get your desire for lack of panic, but the lollygagging around fire alarms terrifies me. If you wait around

> It's not like there's visible smoke or flames. I get your desire for lack of panic, but the lollygagging around fire alarms terrifies me. If you wait around to see smoke, you are now dramatically more likely to need rescue, or just die. Remember how obnoxious it is when campfire smoke blows in your direction, and how quickly you scramble to get out of the way. How you still have to blink for a couple seconds to clear your vision and the pain. Structure fires are 100x that. The smoke has nowhere to go and collects so, so fast. And it's disgustingly choking compared to a simple wood fire cause of all the plastic and oil smoke involved. It'll fill a room top-down in under a minute, and if it hits you you will be as incapacitated as if you had been hit by pepper spray, with no recourse because it's all around you. Meanwhile even if you do escape every breath is ticking years off your life... Tldr if you hear a fire alarm, stand up and leave without a moment's hesitation. No need to run, just get out quick. Please!!

vonmoltke 7y ago
> Tldr if you hear a fire alarm, stand up and leave without a moment's hesitation. No need to run, just get out quick. Please!! That is specifically counter to the FDNY's guidance on alarms in high rise buildings. You get up, congregate at a stairwell, and wait for instructions from the fire safety director. Simply leaving the building without knowing the nature or location of the emergency is dangerous, and staying where you are may actually be the safest course of action.
- komali2 7y ago
  Good point, language is important. I should have said "act immediately." I meant more like "get out from your desk." The idea is to move.
michaelt 7y ago
Yes, to be clear I'm not saying people should wait until they see smoke before they leave. What I was trying to communicate is "The lack of panic I have observed reflects situations where there was no visible danger, I strongly suspect people would behave differently if danger was visible"

vonmoltke 7y ago

> Tldr if you hear a fire alarm, stand up and leave without a moment's hesitation. No need to run, just get out quick. Please!! That is specifically counter to the FDNY's guidance on alarms in high rise buildings. You get up, congregate at a stairwell, and wait for instructions from the fire safety director. Simply leaving the building without knowing the nature or location of the emergency is dangerous, and staying where you are may actually be the safest course of action.

komali2 7y ago
Good point, language is important. I should have said "act immediately." I meant more like "get out from your desk." The idea is to move.

michaelt 7y ago

Yes, to be clear I'm not saying people should wait until they see smoke before they leave. What I was trying to communicate is "The lack of panic I have observed reflects situations where there was no visible danger, I strongly suspect people would behave differently if danger was visible"