Informational signs seldom get the attention they truly deserve. Like their close cousins in advertising, such signs often become just a blended part of the background that people’s brains tend to edit out of the scenery. While this subconscious defense mechanism keeps people from going insane due to constant bombardment of the senses, it also deprives them of critical information they truly need under the proper circumstances.
In an emergency when you might need to get out of a building quickly, it is not always easy to know where the nearest egress point is. It’s possible that the one you entered originally is now blocked or so far away that you have no realistic shot of getting to it in time. This makes discovering other exits a prime factor in your safety. Intelligent signage is really the only option you have other than following a herd of people who may not know any more about the situation than you do.
Clear and concise evacuation maps in San Leandro, CA buildings are literally a life saver under the conditions they were designed to address. In a state that is the earthquake capital of the country, this is especially true. Building owners and businesses should consider the ramifications of not adequately posting evacuation routes. In a time of extreme stress, the lives they save by doing so just might include their own.
For more information on the best way to provide evacuation signage, interested parties are encouraged to connect with women-owned SignWorks at Signworks.us.com.
