In 2003-2004, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 3, 570 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, and sororities that resulted in 7 civilian deaths and 54 civilian fire injuries. For many students, college will be their first time living away from home, as they make new fiends and establish new routines. A number of factors include candle use, cooking, smoking and misuse of electrical appliances can heighten the risk of fire in any campus environment.
College students living away from home should take a few minutes to make sure they are living in a fire-safe environment by following these safety tips:
- Look for housing equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system when choosing a dorm or off-campus housing.
- Make sure your dormitory or apartment has smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on each level. For the best protection, all smoke alarms should be interconnected so that when one sounds they all sound.
- Test all smoke alarms at least monthly.
- Never remove batteries or disable the alarm.
- Learn the building’s evacuation plan and practice all drills as if they were the real thing.
- If living off campus, have a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.
- During a power outage, use a flashlight not candles.
- Burn candles only if the school permits their use. A candle is an open flame and should be placed away from anything that can burn. NEVER leave a candle unattended. Blow it out when leaving the room or going to sleep. (Consider this candle solution: Glade® Wisp Flameless Candle)
- Cook only where it is permitted.
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking. Up to 75 percent of all structure fires involve cooking equipment.
- Cook only when you are alert, not sleepy or drowsy from medicine or alcohol.
- If you smoke, smoke outside and only where it’s permitted. Don’t smoke in bed or when you’ve been driving or are drowsy.
- Check the school’s rules before using any electrical appliances.
- Use a surge protector for the computer and plug the protector directly into an outlet.
Guest Columnist, Fire Marshal Alan Perkins of the Washington Township Fire Department.
News Update: Today, September 17, 2009, “marks the fifth anniversary of National Campus Fire Safety Month with the goal of having more schools, communities, students and parents aware of the dangers of fire and engaged in learning what they can do to make sure tragedy does not strike.” (source: Ed Comeau, Publisher, Campus Firewatch www.campus-firewatch.com.) For more information on National Campus Fire Safety Month can also be found at www.CampusFireSafetyMonth.org.
Tags: Campus, candles, college, fire safety, smoke alarms
