My husband and I were in our hotel room, relaxing, after a good day of walking, when all of the sudden the fire alarm rang. I was not dressed, but it didn’t take me a long time to understand that we needed to do something. I stood up, put my clothes on, and was ready to go outside, when all of the sudden, stupidity kicked in. Please note, I am not proud of it, but I think it is important to share this, so it will not happen to you as well.
I saw my husband taking his bag, and I said “Oh, you are taking your bag?”Obviously, since I have a low self-esteem, and never listen to myself, I decided to follow his example. I went to the safe to take things out of it, things absolutely not important, such as my perfume, my toothbrush etc. Then my husband took my prescription glasses, and we argued about it. I told him that I didn’t need them, and he insisted that I had to take them with me, and this lasted for a little while.
My husband then stood in the middle of the room, and this is when I started panicking, because instead of putting my shoes on, and going downstairs, I had to pick my things up from the safe, make my bag, argue with my husband, get annoyed by him after calling me a prick, and he was just staying there, standing in the middle of the room, not helping me at all.
We then went downstairs, using the exit doors, until the administration told us that it wasn’t a fire, but another toxic product that went straight to the fire sensor. My husband and I went back to our bedroom, I sat on the bed, and said, in a very calm voice: “We have been together for 14 years, and today was a terrible team work.”
Here is what I have suggested for the future:
1.When going to a hotel, we need to know where the exit doors are, in case of an emergency;
2.Nobody should take their bag. During a fire, people are stressed and rely on a leader. If the leader takes his bag, the rest of the group will do the same thing;
3.We should not carry our bags, and instead, use our arms/hands ‘our freedom of movement’ to help other people. Who can we help, if our hands are busy?
4.I had a dressing gown next to me, I should have worn it, worn my slippers and gone downstairs. We should not be afraid of people judging us;
5.My husband called me a prick when he saw me panicking. I told him that he should not insult people during a stressful situation;
6.When using the exist doors, we need to make sure that all doors are opened. We don’t want to be stuck between two staircases;
7.Another hotel guest asked my husband what was happening. He said that it was a false alert. I told him that his answer was not correct, and that he should have said “The problem was solved.” We don’t want other people to stay in their room thinking that the second fire alarm is just a false alarm. All fire alarm should be seen as a threat.
After using the exit doors, my husband and I ended up in a restaurant. We didn’t really know what to do next. Doors were not opened ; someone opened it for us. It would have been nice to have some guidance, such as having a person waiting for us, or for anybody, at the exit door, so we know where to go next. Room doors should also stay opened, so in case of a real emergency, we do not stay behind someone’s door, knocking, trying to get him/her out of the room.
I know we don’t want to lose our stuff. We don’t want to buy a new phone, new clothes or redo our documents, but our safety is our number one priority. Something that I completely neglected after thinking about my personal stuff, only.
