Transcript of my 8th speech in Toastmasters. This uses Visual Aids. Aids means help (please!).
Toastmaster of the Day, Fellow Toastmasters & Guests!
Good Afternoon!
Before starting, I would request you to please spend few seconds on this slide.
Thank you!
So!
How many of you have seen this around? No, I’m not talking about First Floor. But the big one.
(Others haven’t because they always use Elevators, don’t you?)
Have you ever tried to read it, thoroughly?
(I understand that you don’t have time. Fair enough!)
Have you tried to understand it?
(Now there lies the real deal, people!)
Nope! Nobody has gone through it properly. Because we are a bunch of lazy people. We don’t have time to read things. We can also understand, only if, someone else tells about it. Through a Speech.
For that specific reason, being the responsible person I am, I took it upon myself. To tell you clear and concise steps, which you should follow, if you come across any Fire Hazard.
I’m going to tell you, in most lucid terms, the Do’s and the Don’ts you should follow, when you encounter fire in your surroundings. Specially workplace. I will share few Time Tested Tips which will help you gain confidence to overcome such tough times. The Goal of this speech is to make sure that each and every person in this audience knows what to do and what not to do. This would help you to save yours and your colleagues’ respective lives!
Body
Imagine this situation:
You are working desperately hard and the deadline is upon you. You have 100s of pending tasks and your boss is eating your head to finish the work ASAP.
You start praying
“GOD, PLEASE SET UP THIS BUILDING ON FIRE AND HELP ME! PLEASE!”
And VOILA! God listens to you!
You hear loud continuous alarm.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!
Now here are things you should NOT DO.
- Don’t try to become Sherlock Holmes and try to find the source of the fire. Leave that job to the Professionals or as we call them here in Oracle, the Emergency Response Team.
- If in case you actually find fire nearby,
TAKE A SELFIE AND POST ON FACEBOOK?
“Fire in office! Enjoying the thrill. #FiringInOffice” with 21 others.
NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER think of doing this.
Fire or no fire. This is not the right human behavior. Please.
- If you have heard the alarm, and think that it is no big deal. You are doing it wrong!!!
Now here are things you MUST DO.
- First Escape and then call for help. Leave all your belongings and Laptops and just run. You may inform others on the way but don’t wait for anyone. Remember that , they will also not wait for you. That’s how life is, unfortunately.
- Now where would you run actually? Good question. Thanks for asking! Always be aware of the escape plan which you can find on all floors. Keep that in mind and find the ways to stairs.
- Head over to the Safe Assembly Area Straight. Don’t take any Detour. Go there and as instructed by the ERT people, stand in line so that they can take a headcount.
One more thing
Also, one more thing. NEVER USE ELEVATORS when there is a fire hazard. Always use stairs. Difficult I know, but a little inconvenience can save your life.
Now there may be a case that no one is there to help. Only in that case, you can try to be a Superhero and try to douse the fire. But do you know how can you do that? Yes, by using Fire Extinguishers.
But do you know how do they work? Of course, no. Don’t worry. I have got you covered.
So that you don’t become NO-MORE, you should KNOW MORE about Fire Extinguishers. You can find out their type by looking at them. There are many types of Fire Extinguishers but as far as work place is concerned, there are generally 3 types:
Type A –
ORDINARY SOLID COMBUSTIBLES LIKE WOOD, CLOTH, AND PAPER PRODUCTS
Type B –
FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS AND GASES
Type C –
ELECTRICAL FIRES – DO NOT USE WATER TO PUT OUT THIS KIND OF FIRE.
YOU COULD GET ELECTROCUTED!
I hope now you are well-equipped as to how to save your life during a fire hazard. I hope you paid attention to this speech. If not, you can still save your life if you attend next fire drill. To summarize everything, here’s a recap.
- Attend Fire Drill. Most people skip it, or take it very lightly. But it is the nearest real life simulation available. Don’t avoid it, please!
- Keep Escape Routes Clear
- If you smell something weird, report immediately to the facilities team
- Keep your eyes and ears open for instructions from the ERT Team. They know.
We don’t know when emergency might strike, but it is good to be geared up to be knowledgeable enough to handle it. Now how many are comfortable in knowing what to do in case of fire. If you need more information we could talk after the session.
I wish you the best and a safe work environment. Here are the references I used to make this presentation. Over to Toastmaster of the Day!
Here’s the presentation:
P.S.: I delivered this speech wearing the Orange Vest, a Fire Safety Professional Cap and a Whistle. 😛