All staff needs to be trained in fire evacuation procedure and routes before ever assuming the role of the responsible adult in a classroom. Administrative staff should meet with fire officials to prepare the initial plans and then share them with regular staff. Every adult in the building should be able to tell you where the fire evacuation routes are posted and be aware of each classroom's exit routing. Evacuation routes need to be posted visibly for any adult to access and be easy to read. Fire officials will help you design the routes so that all exits are being utilized for the fastest evacuation.
Fire alarms are loud. They will scare most children in the event that they go off at a preschool. The best way to prepare preschool age children for this occurrence is to train them with a loud sound. Air horns and gym whistles are going to give off a similar volume and can be heard when classroom doors are closed. Fire evacuation routes are generally required to be practiced at least once a month. This will allow for more frequent exposure to the noise and less crying children during the drill.
Use morning meeting time to practice with children. You can purchase a small whistle and make a game out of blowing it and seeing who can line up the fastest after hearing the whistle. It is a good idea to practice how to line up when the kids hear the signal without running or pushing. This small-group practice within the classroom will take away the "unknown" factor that can scare a lot of children and will expose them to the vocabulary related to fire evacuation. Take them on a practice evacuation whenever you practice lining up in the classroom to complete the routine. Be sure to do a head count before ever leaving the room for both fire drills and real evacuations.
When you do evacuate the building, whether for a drill or an actual fire, be sure to take an emergency bag with you. This should include a list of children, snacks, activities or books and first aid. A teacher's main concern during a fire evacuation is getting every single child out of the building and to the designated evacuation spot. Follow your routine as you have practiced it so that all administrators and firefighters know where to find you.