Friday, March 29, 2024

What is your escape plan? Relocating/bus/train/car/hotel

Location - escape plan

When planning to relocate, as an expat, or working overseas, or even just in another city, consider travel costs. What does it cost to travel from your home country to the business.

 The British Council was set up in London, England, so that two or more offices were both next to Central line stations. That way those in charge .could travel from one branch to another easily and quickly, at low cost. Visitors could travel easily for collecting leaflets and information or for job intrviews.

If I look for a second home, or to relocate, I shall look at safety of the location and travel routes.

In a hotel, look for the exit from the restaurant and the hotel bedroom. 

Route to Location 

If you are planning an overseas wedding, check the cost and travel times to your destination from your home country and the nearest train station or airport. 

How will latecomers reach you? If flights are delayed, your guests might not be able to reach you on a cruise ship. 

In the USA, off Florida, I was a witness at a wedding on a cruise ship. The groom never made it to the first wedding I was asked to be the witness for. 

I was witness at a second event instead - arranged by the purser who had to find two witnesses for a couple who had no guests. It was her second wedding. His fifth.  

Check the driving or bus route out. In the event of a war, or just a change of weather.


Prevention

Prevention can include clearing paths to exit.



Checking fire alarms work. Checking fire extinguishers are up to date. They have use by dates on the sides. They don't last forever.

Prevention for others - security

Checking Escape Routes

If you are an air steward on a plane giving an annoucement obviously you have to learn the speech about safebelts and exits. But is you are looking after a group on a train, you need to do the same thing. In a car I avoid the middle seat. I like to sit on the pavement side. Sometimes this means I must jump in first, or wait until last. 

Cars and Car Doors

Or it might mean moving the luggage, if you and your suitcase are in the back of a vehicle. Do you want the suitcase by the door where it is easier to offload to the pavement. Or would you be better advised to have yourself next to the door to get out in a hurry, even if it is only to ask the way to the car park.

Emergency Eit - Escape Plan For yourself

I read in a newspaper an account of somebody who survived a serious railway accident. He got out of his carriage because he had noted the door from his carriage to the corridor, the distance to the nearest window and main carriage door, as well as the distance to the window and how it opened. His habit was to always check the escape route on a train as he boarded and sat down. 

 On a train,, I always try to dsit near an exit - and to watch y luggage to guard it against loss or theft, or to grab it on the way out. You have to keep watching as others board and sling their stuff on top of yours. To mke my exit easier and qicker in a normal situation, I keep moving my little suitcase so it is always on top, not squashed nor inaccessible under a heavier, larger item.

Warning Others

If you leave a builing in a fire, you could knock on other doors as you pass. If you don't want to delay, you could at least shout a warning. Or grab a bottle to bang on each door so you don't have to stop to ring bells and hunt for knockers. 

Afterwards - Survival Kits

The Japanese keep survival kits by their front door. Basically a suicase as if for a camping trip, first aid and food and drink, spare clothes, as well as vital documents, house insurance emergency number, address of family, clothes sizes, duplicated or copies of passports, driing licenses, credit card emergency numbers and old phones which can be reused temperoarily with a new sim card. Whatever you think might be handy. 

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