Fire Safety Reminders For College-Bound Students

Very shortly, many college students will be on their way to college and some will be living on campus or in off-campus housing. So, here are some safety tips that students should be aware of. If you are a student, please review them. If you are the
parent of a college-bound student, please share these tips with your child before he or she heads off to college this year.

HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN.

Learn where all the exits are to make escape faster in a fire emergency.  On campus, there should be a plan in place already. If you don’t know what it is, the Public Safety Office should be able to tell you. If this information is not readily available or you are living off campus, take a few minutes to walk around and do your own pre-plan. 

KNOW HOW TO MAKE A NOTIFICATION OF A FIRE EMERGENCY.

Find out where alarm pull boxes are and what number to call to report a fire. 

IF THE ALARM SOUNDS, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY AND CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND YOU.

Remember to take your keys should you have to re-enter the room if your escape route is blocked with fire or smoke.

KNOW HOW TO ESCAPE.

• If you have to escape through smoke, get low and get to the nearest exit. The cleanest air is close to the ground.
• Before opening a door, feel the door with the back of your hand. If it’s hot, don’t open it. Find a second way out.
• If you are trapped in your room, seal your door with towels, rags, or clothing so that smoke cannot enter from the hall.  Stay low and be positioned under a window and keep yelling for help and banging on the wall.

GET OUT AND STAY OUT. 

No textbook, homework assignment, laptop, cell phone, IPod or wallet is worth going back for. You were lucky to get out safely once. You might not be as lucky a second time!

DO NOT HANG ANYTHING FROM SPRINKLER HEADS.

This could disable or block the flow of water, which is necessary to help contain or extinguish flames.

MAKE SURE THERE ARE WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS OUTSIDE AND INSIDE YOUR SLEEPING QUARTERS. 

Test monthly. Never disable a smoke detector or the fire alarm. These are installed to give warning to you and your neighbors so you can quickly exit should smoke or fire be detected.

ONLY USE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FOR EMERGENCIES. 

They are there for you to use should you have to put out a small, contained fire.  Don’t waste this equipment on a midnight water fight!  For an extra level of safety, keep an ABC extinguisher in your room and learn how to use it.  They are labeled with simple instructions.