Earthquake drill at a school, Sylhet

About this task

The Sylhet region lies near the Dauki fault and is among the country’s most earthquake-prone areas. An earthquake drill at a school, with the head teacher’s consent: teaching pupils to drop, cover and hold on, then, at the bell, walking out calmly in lines to a set place in the open field. The time the whole school takes is measured.

Why it matters

Bangladesh sits in an active seismic zone, and experts count crowded cities such as Dhaka and Gazipur among the most at risk from a large earthquake. Many injuries come from panicked running and crowding on stairs. A child who has drilled once knows what to do.

What changes after

The whole school reached the open ground within two minutes; a drill poster in every classroom; the school decides to drill twice a year.

Who can join

Anyone; best with a teacher or someone trained by the fire service.

What it costs

Getting ready, step by step

• 14 days before

  Meet the head teacher; fix the day, time and whether it is one class or the whole school.

  Apply to the nearest fire station for support.

• 7 days before

  Walk the building: which stairs each class uses, any locks or blockages.

  Fix the assembly point: away from walls, power lines and trees.

  Send the note to parents.

• 3 days before

  15-minute teacher briefing: the signal, who is on which stairs, who calls the roll.

  Write down each classroom's way out to the field.

• The day before

  Mark each class's spot on the field in lime.

  Check stairs and corridors are clear.

• The day

  Teach in class, then whistle and drill; time it.

  Roll call on the field; tell the head teacher the result.

Who does what

• Drill lead and timekeeper (1): Blows the whistle, times it, sums up what went well and badly. — ____________
• Stair marshals (2): One per staircase: “walk, don't run”, hold the rail. — ____________
• Assembly point and photos (1): Seats classes on their marks; photos and video. — ____________

The day, hour by hour

• 08:30Team arrives; checks stairs, doors and field again.
• 09:0015 minutes per class: drop, cover your head under the bench, hold the leg; away from windows and cupboards.
• 09:30One practice in class, without the whistle.
• 09:45Whistle: “Earthquake!” Everyone drops, covers, holds for 30 seconds.
• 09:46Second whistle: shaking stopped; lines walk out by the stairs, heads covered with a book or bag. No lift.
• 09:50Classes sit on their marks; class teachers call the roll; total time noted.
• 10:00Five minutes with all: what went well, where it jammed.
• 10:15Posters up in classrooms; fix the next drill with the head teacher.

What can go wrong, and what to do

• Pushing or falling on the stairs → Release classes one by one; when a marshal says “stop” everyone stops; first aid at hand.
• Small children get scared and cry → Present it like a game; a teacher or volunteer stays with the little ones.
• A rumour afterwards of a real quake → Notice to parents first; ask children to tell their families at home what it was.

Useful numbers

• 999National emergency: police, fire, ambulance (free)
• 16163Fire Service and Civil Defence

Team notes