Yes, I'll definitely (at work) ask someone else I am more comfortable with after the meeting exactly what so-and-so said if I didn't get it even with a repeat request. If it's something like your fire stuff, I'll ask around if there are printed copies (of rules or whatever) to make sure I don't miss something important/official.

My worst time is when I'm "leaving" and there are several people saying goodbye on both sides; once I've said goodbye I space out and will come to and be surprised that people are still talking/saying goodbye and be mortified that I haven't been "there" and may have missed future plans or personal things that were said.