3 ms·

I was in the Ritz-Carlson in DTLA last year for Anime expo. Waiting on the third floor for a convention with atleast 200 people just in that one smaller area,

by s5300 6y ago

I was in the Ritz-Carlson in DTLA last year for Anime expo. Waiting on the third floor for a convention with atleast 200 people just in that one smaller area, all of the sudden, a live voice came over the intercom with instructions to immediately evacuate the building, all but essential staff. In my mind it seemed as serious as if there was an active shooter somewhere. I was literally the only person in the group to fucking book it to a fire exit. Everybody else was just casually standing in line, like you seriously couldn't make up how serious they made the situation sound and how little just about everybody did to care. It was over in about 5 minutes, I never heard any explanation as to why it had happened aside from a rumour that somebody was vaping in the lobby and did not leave when asked to. And this is like, the biggest hotel in DTLA, during a massive convention. Not entirely relevant... but weird ass experience. People react to things strangely.

gear54rus 6y ago
Don't know about you but in my country they test and test those system relentlessly so you get "boy who cried wolf" situation. Not sure how to avoid that.
- WalterBright 6y ago
  That's when you append "this is not a drill".
- bluGill 6y ago
  In my country they do the drills every year, the day - but not the time is announced in advanced. Everyone knows that they will be checking that everyone gets out, so we all leave and gather in our assigned locations and enjoy a paid break outside. They schedule these for good weather so getting outside is a nice break. This way people take it seriously, but don't panic. We know from experience that someone will be outside with a checklist to make sure we all leave. There are scientific practices behind the above. I suggest you get your country on board with those so that people take the alarm seriously.
tdeck 6y ago
Once I was in the Newark Airport (never again, hopefully) when the fire alarm started going off. As I looked for an exit I noticed nobody was doing anything, and it continued to go off with at high volume with no announcement and no guidance from anyone for a full 20 minutes. I ended up staying because I didn't know what to do and didn't want to miss my flight.
3pt14159 6y ago
Very few people internalize the OODA loop. I've reacted fast in situations and it saved lives, but I wasn't born that way. I had trained for years as a kid in a program literally called Life Savers[0] which taught swimming in contexts where others are drowning, first aid including CPR, and how to react in situations like burning buildings and downed electrical lines. One of the first things they tell you is that untrained people react to chaos by freezing and that because most people are untrained this collective freeze is enforced by social pressure. So you need to point and yell in order to get people organized and moving. For example, when I was giving mouth-to-mouth to someone I pointed and yelled at one person to get me a medic and they just stared blankly back at me, so I pointed and yelled at the person standing next to them and he jumped into action. It takes focus and leadership, but it's vital during a crisis. [0] https://lifesaverscanada.com/ https://lifesaverscanada.com/
- s5300 6y ago
  Yeah, I grew up with a hobby that basically entailed... extreme hypervigilance, quick decision making, and leadership initiative. Seems to have ingrained itself deeply within me having participated in it somewhat religiously from 10-18. Sometimes I regret it a bit as it's made me pretty much always alert/hyperaware of my surroundings.
  - 3pt14159 6y ago
    Haha, yeah I know what you mean. It also makes it hard to be a passenger in a car with an inattentive or distracted driver.
    - jacquesm 6y ago
      More than once I've asked someone to stop their vehicle so I could get out and arrange for an alternative transport. Either that or let me drive but no way I'm going to be a passenger in a car that has a driver that isn't on the job.

by s5300 6y ago

gear54rus 6y ago

Don't know about you but in my country they test and test those system relentlessly so you get "boy who cried wolf" situation. Not sure how to avoid that.

WalterBright 6y ago
That's when you append "this is not a drill".
bluGill 6y ago
In my country they do the drills every year, the day - but not the time is announced in advanced. Everyone knows that they will be checking that everyone gets out, so we all leave and gather in our assigned locations and enjoy a paid break outside. They schedule these for good weather so getting outside is a nice break. This way people take it seriously, but don't panic. We know from experience that someone will be outside with a checklist to make sure we all leave. There are scientific practices behind the above. I suggest you get your country on board with those so that people take the alarm seriously.

tdeck 6y ago

Once I was in the Newark Airport (never again, hopefully) when the fire alarm started going off. As I looked for an exit I noticed nobody was doing anything, and it continued to go off with at high volume with no announcement and no guidance from anyone for a full 20 minutes. I ended up staying because I didn't know what to do and didn't want to miss my flight.

3pt14159 6y ago

Very few people internalize the OODA loop. I've reacted fast in situations and it saved lives, but I wasn't born that way. I had trained for years as a kid in a program literally called Life Savers[0] which taught swimming in contexts where others are drowning, first aid including CPR, and how to react in situations like burning buildings and downed electrical lines. One of the first things they tell you is that untrained people react to chaos by freezing and that because most people are untrained this collective freeze is enforced by social pressure. So you need to point and yell in order to get people organized and moving. For example, when I was giving mouth-to-mouth to someone I pointed and yelled at one person to get me a medic and they just stared blankly back at me, so I pointed and yelled at the person standing next to them and he jumped into action. It takes focus and leadership, but it's vital during a crisis. [0] https://lifesaverscanada.com/ https://lifesaverscanada.com/

s5300 6y ago
Yeah, I grew up with a hobby that basically entailed... extreme hypervigilance, quick decision making, and leadership initiative. Seems to have ingrained itself deeply within me having participated in it somewhat religiously from 10-18. Sometimes I regret it a bit as it's made me pretty much always alert/hyperaware of my surroundings.
- 3pt14159 6y ago
  Haha, yeah I know what you mean. It also makes it hard to be a passenger in a car with an inattentive or distracted driver.
  - jacquesm 6y ago
    More than once I've asked someone to stop their vehicle so I could get out and arrange for an alternative transport. Either that or let me drive but no way I'm going to be a passenger in a car that has a driver that isn't on the job.