5
Apr
Bousai Kunnen: Now That’s a Fire Drill!
Topic: Japan 2007, Kai
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Kai starts 1st grade next week, and I have a backlog of posts to write about his time in kindergarten. So brace yourself for my next few posts: they’re all about going to kindergarten in Tokyo.
Back in January, I attended one of many events at Kai’s school where a parent was expected to be there. This one was a fire drill. It’s not like the US where they just ring the fire alarm and then tell the kids to file out in an orderly fashion. I remember those fire drills from childhood, where they would also tell us about “stop, drop, and roll” and things like that. But now that I’ve experienced a Japanese fire drill, I have to say my childhood training probably wouldn’t have helped much if I were ever really in a building that was on fire. Just being told what to do when you’re in a burning building doesn’t really prepare you for the disorientation of actually being engulfed in dense smoke.
For fire drills in Tokyo, the local fire department brings a portable canvass “smoke room” to the school, as you can see in the pictures. Also, the school has fire proof hats for the kids that make them look like extras from a Dr. Who episode (but starting in 1st grade they’re expected to buy and bring their own hats). The smoke room isn’t that big, and all the kids had to do was go in one side and come out the other. No big deal, right? Well, after the kids were done, the parents were invited to try it as well. I put a hand towel over my mouth as I was instructed, and as soon as I stepped in I was completely blinded by the smoke. I figured all I had to do was walk straight, so I took a few steps, and a few more, and then a few more… and then I started to worry, as I thought I should have reached the exit by then… Maybe I didn’t quite go straight… maybe I’m actually headed to the corner, and I’ve missed the exit. So I started waving an arm in front of me as I took a few more steps so I could feel for the exit, and to my relief I found the exit flap and headed out.
So, a lesson learned: those action movies we’ve all seen with folks running around in burning buildings - it isn’t like that at all. You actually can’t see even two feet in front of you.
[tags]Japan, Tokyo, kindergarten, fire drill[/tags]
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