Post-Schna-ulations

Backdraft

Ah, yes, the inevitable fire drill. I work on the 8th floor of a building with three of the most dysfunctional elevators I have ever encountered. So about 45 minutes ago, the fire alarm went off. We got our keys together and started the long trek down the ridiculously humid, hot stairwell with hundreds of other people. About 6 minutes most alarm, we are at about the 5th floor (did I mention that our building is full of many out of shape people who wait ten minutes to take the elevator DOWN two floors?). Anyway, we go outside for the obligatory ten minutes or so before we get the "all clear" (anyone else having flashbacks to elementary school?). Then it's into the building.
Now, I would normally take the stairs up to avoid the long, LONG lines at the elevators. However, as mentioned before, the stairwell was about 85 degrees and and stiflingly (is that a word, or did i just make that up?) humid. And the temperature in the lobby area was really nice (not hot, like outside, not FREEZING like in my office). SO, my coworkers and I just waited, in no hurry to get upstairs. 45 minutes total from alarm time until the present. Good times.
Honestly, with all of the fire drills that we have all been subjected to at school, work, wherever (sometimes at home for those with safety conscious parents), if ever a REAL emergency were to occur, we'd be toast. Literally...human toast. There is no immediacy left to our reactions to fire alarms.
To make it even better in this particular building, the 6th and 7th floors house a schizophrenia clinic. So, there were (at least) 2 people who were having panic attacks because of the added bonus of fire alarm on top of paranoia. Who can blame them?
Anyway, after that brief reprieve, it's work as usual. Until next time, don't forget to close the doors, turn out the lights, and follow your fire marshal to the nearest exit.

posted by Schna @ 1:14 PM