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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU about supermarket fire drill?

39 replies

mangoespadrille · 20/04/2015 21:32

Walked into Asda this morning with DD 3 months in pram. It's the type where the ground floor is the car park and the actual store is upstairs. Got in the lift and started going up, when it suddenly stopped and the fire alarm was going off. Eventually it started moving back down and opened on the ground floor again, but not before I'd started to freak out a little bit about the prospect of being trapped in a lift in an emergency with my DD.

I later returned to the store, turned out to have been a planned drill that was announced on the tannoy just before I entered the store. AIBU to think if they're going to do this then a staff member should be stopping unsuspecting people entering the lift? Or am I overreacting? Hard to judge when you're suffering from anxiety so thanks in advance. I'm in two minds whether to make a complaint.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 20/04/2015 21:35

I don't blame you for panicking but I suppose in a real situation, they would actually have people in the lift.

I got caught in a fire drill in Morrisons once but there was no warning.

No-one knew what to do with their baskets and trollies...or indeed where to find them again afterwards Grin

Sirzy · 20/04/2015 21:37

I would have panicked to, but like worra said in a real situation they may well have people in the lift and they need to keep things as real as possible when doing the drill.

Original poster
mangoespadrille · 20/04/2015 21:38

I worked in a supermarket as a student but it was all on one level. When there was a fire drill dozens of people just "accidently" walked out with their shopping and "forgot" to go back and pay for it!

OP posts:
TenerifeSea · 20/04/2015 21:39

YANBU to feel panicked but I think YWBU to complain, I can't see that they did anything wrong.

Hope you're ok though. :)

BikeRunSki · 20/04/2015 21:40

I think they need to make it as realistic as possible. I was once in the swimming pool when there was an actual fire alarm and I had to hang out in Leeds City Centre in my swimsuit and a space blanket, in February.

WorraLiberty · 20/04/2015 21:43

They weren't daft at Morrisons. They stuck two burly security guards at the door!

Mind you, I didn't know lifts automatically stop and then go downwards during a fire so at least I've learnt something from this thread.

MinionDave · 20/04/2015 21:43

As a fellow anxiety sufferer I can totally see where you are coming from, I would have thought they would have put up an out of order sign or something even if just for 5 minutes or so. I would have freaked out!

YANBU

whiteblossom · 20/04/2015 21:48

OMG you poor thing. I would have freaked out, I hate lifts and having a small baby with you, it's a totally understandable reaction to have. I'm on the fence with this one, I kinda thing a member of staff should have stood at ground floor to prevent people getting in lift or at least a note in the lift advising of planned fire drill and not to panic. I don't think I could have gone back in after that!!

kissmethere · 20/04/2015 21:49

They should have actually had staff there to stop you using the lift for this very reason. There was an announcement before you entered the store and you weren't in on it! Worth complaining, they can have a realistic enough Fire alarm test without putting customers through what you went through. Was it a drill or a test?

Original poster
mangoespadrille · 20/04/2015 21:53

I went up the sloped travelator thing when I went back, even though you're not supposed to with a pram. I'm a rebel, me!

OP posts:
Original poster
mangoespadrille · 20/04/2015 21:54

It was a test I think...although not sure of the difference?

OP posts:
youmakemydreams · 20/04/2015 22:05

A test is just to test the alarm world. A drill would be a full evacuation to test their procedure.
It is something worth mentioning even if they want to keep it as real as possible. I would have totally freaked out and I'm not a panickey person.

youmakemydreams · 20/04/2015 22:06

Works not world Hmm

Bunbaker · 20/04/2015 22:08

Was this in the Ashington store?

OrlandoWoolf · 20/04/2015 22:09

Schools normally do fire practice during lessons.
We had a "fire" at lunchtime. So kids outside, teachers out, kids in the dining hall. Chairs everywhere.

Everyone was fine. But it made people realise that fires can happen anytime and we did need to work on our plans.

(it was toast, I think)

Original poster
mangoespadrille · 20/04/2015 22:10

In that case it was a test rather than a drill.

Not Adhington, Bunbaker.

OP posts:
abigamarone · 20/04/2015 22:13

I wouldn't make a complaint as such, but it would be worth bringing to their attention - they may not even be aware that the lift suffers power failure during a fire drill.

Original poster
mangoespadrille · 20/04/2015 22:14

Orlando, I'm a teacher too and agree it's pretty interesting getting 1200 teenagers to the right queue on the tennis courts. Just never heard the alarm go off whilst trapped in a metal box with my tiny baby (yes, I am overstating it somewhat with this sentence - this is how my melodramatic anxiety brain works!)

OP posts:
ThinkIveBeenHacked · 20/04/2015 22:19

Usually in a drill the only person who knows is the Mantenance manager or person whose responsibility it is to perform them. Even the Duty Manager wouldnt or shouldnt know in advance. Part of the protocol of a Drill is to ground the elevators (it is necessary that the Duty Manager knows how to do it or knows who to request does it).

So it really isnt always possible to shepherd customers around in the moments leading up to a drill.

chickenfuckingpox · 20/04/2015 22:21

at the local CEX store they go out of their way to warn us since ds freaked out and nearly ran into the shelf (he hates loud noises) apparently they test every Wednesday morning so i never take his shopping on a Wednesday Grin

OrlandoWoolf · 20/04/2015 22:23

If I was in a lift with a baby and the alarm went off, I would stay still.

I've seen too many disaster movies. Don't climb out, don't open the doors and don't try to get out.

I'm not sure if lying on the floor is a good idea or not. Might help.

Original poster
mangoespadrille · 20/04/2015 22:32

Orlando, what about adopting a stance ready to jump at precisely the same moment the lift hits the bottom of the lift shaft, thus preventing you from feeling the impact?

OP posts:
OrlandoWoolf · 20/04/2015 22:36

I was never very good at lift physics. Grin

Carlywurly · 20/04/2015 22:36

I'm mildly claustrophobic and I would have been terrified - I do think they should stop customers using the lift to be honest. It's a totally unpleasant experience to subject anyone to if it can be avoided.

kissmethere · 20/04/2015 22:41

If it's a test they need staff on the shop floor and at the lifts as the test could panic people, which it did in your case. I'd it's a drill the same measure should be in place for a calm evacuation and stop people from entering the store. It sounds like they didn't take any of this into consideration . Mention it to them.