Fire Drills
Fire drills and emergency evacuation drills can be very challenging for individuals with autism. In the interest of safety for all concerned, it is probably a good idea to take time to systematically teach individuals with autism the difference between a drill and an actual emergency, the importance of following instructions even when they do not seem to make sense, and the importance of remaining calm and attentive during a drill.
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Recently, I heard a teacher give very detailed instructions about fire drills to a classroom filled with students. She began by saying, “Everybody put down your pencils and look up here so I can tell you what we will do when we have a fire drill. Now, you all know that we are required to have a fire drill so everyone knows what to do just in case we have a fire. So, don’t panic. Just listen to the directions and be very quiet.” She continued with a long list of instructions about the process. I looked at my friends with autism. None were focused on the detailed instructions.
I’ve seen other problems arise during fire drills. One student panicked because he did not understand the concept of a drill, so he was convinced that everyone and everything was “going to burn.” Another student understood that there was not an actual fire, so he refused to evacuate because it didn’t make sense to him to interrupt the math lesson for a “pretend fire.” The third student apparently equated the walk down the hall to recess, so he ran out to the playground equipment as soon as he cleared the doors. Yet another student did not know any of the adults in the vicinity when a fire drill occurred during lunch time, so she simply refused to follow their directions.
It seems to me that many youngsters with autism would respond best to one-on-one training for emergency drills, and that many would need a “drill buddy.” Youngster who are very limited in their ability to follow instructions or to stay calm during unexpected situations might benefit from development of an individualized contingency plan for fires and other emergencies at home, at school, and other situations. Please feel free to send your ideas. Just send a message to talk@faqautism.com
Note to FAQautism.com listeners and readers: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. You can click on a button to send me an email with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solutions. Check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. www.FAQautism.com
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