A drill is a test of the plan, not of the people. If the plan fails, fix the plan.
Announce a time window, not the exact minute. Unannounced drills reveal real behaviour; surprise drills create anxiety. Choose based on the maturity of your team.
Time the full sequence: alert received, people drop, evacuation decision, roll call. Compare with the previous drill.
Assign roles: an incident lead, a sweep team for accessible-needs occupants, and a communications point.
Debrief within 24 hours while memory is fresh. Record three things that worked and three that did not, and assign an owner to each fix.
Repeat at least twice a year. Practice beats documentation.
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