This is a drill. This is a drill. This is a drill.

Doing fire drills is a regular part of our life.  Here's a non-technical, may-not-be-altogether-perfect list of the steps we take in our fire drills:

Step 1: Wonder if there is going to be a drill (they are typically every other Thursday afternoon sometime between about 3:20 and 3:35...but lately they've been a bit more sporadic as we've been bunkering)(ahhh the things we've learned - bunkering means to take on fuel)(it's super cute to hear Emma say the word "bunkering")

Step 2: If there is indeed a drill, we hear one long beep (of at least 10 seconds)(I think I have my alarms sorted out...but I may have them backwards...I should know, I took BST - basic safety training...remember the fire suits?...oh well...)...So a beep comes across the loudspeaker/intercom system and then someone says "this is a drill. this is a drill. this is a drill.  fire has been reported in ________.  All fire teams please report to their emergency muster stations."  Fun fact: Nick is the Hose and Gear man on Fire Team #4.  His muster station is on Deck 7, forward. 

Different scenarios are set up for each drill...my favorite was when the fire was in the crew galley and the route we would normally take was completely shut off....that's part of the "game" for us - figuring out the best way to get to the gangway.  Secret confession: I think it would be kind of fun to set up the scenarios...

Step 3: After the 1st alarm and before the 2nd alarm, gather up all that we want to take out to the dock for this drill - ice and water in a nalgene, snacks of some sort...chairs/stools and then wait for the next alarm to ring

Step 4: Hear 7 short beeps, followed by one long beep...that's our signal to head to our muster stations out on the dock.

Step 5: Head to our muster stations.  Quietly.

Step 6: Gather at our trusty muster station A-D.  Pick a comfy place to settle in for a bit.

Step 7: Name caller does her job.  Assistant name caller looks over her shoulder and makes sure she's doing her job.  They take role at the muster station and make sure no one is missing.  They have to report anyone who is missing to muster control.  Their other job is to maintain control...and keep order if we get out of control...we tend to get pretty rowdy...not really.  I think we're incredibly calm for a muster station full of kids!  Our name caller is from New Zealand - it's fun to listen to her take role.

Step 8: Wait.  Get our Vitamin D therapy.  Eat a snack. Share a conversation.  Do homework. 

 

Step 9: Listen for the announcement "If anyone knows the whereabouts of the following people please contact Muster Control" -- then the names of people who are missing are read across the loudspeaker - we're supposed to report to Muster Control if we know their whereabouts.  Once everyone is accounted for and the fire team has successfully "put out the fire" (taken would what be the proper steps to put out the fire since there is no actual fire...), the drill is complete.  Some drills are shorter than others (I'd guess, on average, they are about 30-35 minutes long). 

Step 10: Wait for the Captain to announce the end of the drill.

Step 11:  Once the announcement is made, we can head inside.

Step 12: Make a tally mark on our white board signifying the completion of another Fire Drill.

Step 13:  Go on about the rest of our Thursday feeling safer and better prepared to handled any emergency that may come our way.

Fun things to note: 

• Today is a "non-drill Thursday" (though they could throw a surprise one on us if they wanted!)
• When the alarm starts alarming, Emma doesn't scream like she used to (thank You, GOD!!!).  She still covers her ears...but no more screaming. 
• There are 2 main kinds of fire drills:  "at sea drills" (we muster on Deck 7) and "in port drills" (that's what we do throughout the year since we're - you've got it - in port!) There's also a "hospital evacuation drill" - the hospital has to practice evacuating ALL the patients -- they do that one before there are actually patients on the ward....
• Nick was the assistant name caller at our muster station before he said "yes" to being on the fire team.
• Alternate names for this blog post:  "Vitamin D Therapy" or "Every other Thursday Afternoon"

Surely there will be more to come.