Possible Means of Escape for Evacuation From Dangerous Locations vs. The Safety of the Occupants of These Places. Sociological Analysis on the Example Student Survey at the Rzeszów University of Technology

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse Rzeszów University of Technology students' familiarity with the emergency exits in the buildings where they attend classes and their knowledge of the evacuation routes from these buildings in the event of a construction disaster, fire, terrorist attack, or other possibly dangerous phenomenon. The analyses described are based on scientific research carried out on a population of 249 university students, to whom a survey regarding this subject was administered. Study findings indicated that respondents' familiarity with emergency exit locations in buildings and knowledge of emergency evacuation procedures for public utility buildings were at a very low level. It is therefore recommended that efforts aimed at ensuring student preparedness should evacuation from university buildings be necessary be increased and that university threat alert systems be improved.