College Dorm Room Fire Safety 101

Sixty students have died in fires in residence halls, Greek housing, and off-campus residences since January of 2000.

There are a few basic questions that you should ask when considering student housing.  The answers to these questions can give you an idea of the priority the school places on fire safety.

What to ask?

·         How many fires have occurred on campus in the past few years?

·         Does every room have a smoke alarm?

·         Are the residence halls equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system?

·         Does the fire alarm notify the Fire Department?

·         How much fire prevention training do the staff and resident assistants receive?

·         How many false alarms have occurred in the residence halls?

·         How often are fire drills conducted?

·         What is the school's disciplinary policy against students who cause false alarms or fail to evacuate when an alarm sounds?

·         Are candles allowed? If so, WHY?

Once moved in, parents need to encourage students to pay attention to fire safety.  Student living areas are often overfilled with books, paper, bedding, curtains, and clothes that make rooms a fire waiting to happen.  In this environment, even the smallest spark can be deadly.

Electrical:

·         Do not overload extension cords, power strips or outlets.

·         Never staple wires or extension cords.

·         Do not use cords or electrical outlets that are too hot to touch.

·         Do not connect multiple extension cords together.

·         Get a power strip with an over-current protector:  A power strip with an over-current protector shuts off power automatically if there is too much current being drawn.

·         Do not route cords under doors or carpets.

·         Use light bulbs with correct wattage for lamps – if unsure use a 60 watt bulb.

·         Halogen lamps, if used, must be designed with a mesh guard that forbids contact with the bulb and have an automatic tip-over switch.

Cooking:

·         Pay attention, and do not leave cooking unattended.

·         Keep surfaces clean of grease.

·         Never pour water on a grease fire.

·         Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher handy.

·         Keep combustibles away from the stove.

Candles and Incense:

·         Candles should be extinguished when not needed.

·         Never leave candles or incense unattended.

·         Keep candles and incense away from curtains, flammable materials and unstable surfaces.

·         Never empty ashtrays into garbage or other containers where flammables might be present.

Alcohol…A Danger:

·         About ½ of adults who die in house fires have high blood alcohol counts.

·         Alcoholic burn victims have a mortality rate three times that of non-alcoholic victims.

·         Drinking increases the chance of someone falling asleep while smoking in bed.

·         Drinking greatly reduces your ability to detect a fire, respond to a fire or fire alarm, and safely escape a fire.

What If There Is A Fire?

·         Have an escape plan and know two ways to exit the building from your room, before you need it.

·         Memorize the number of doors to the nearest exits.

·         Keep a fire extinguisher handy and know how it works.

·         Treat each fire alarm as a real fire - seconds can make the difference between life and death.

·         Evacuate immediately and pull the fire alarm box on your way out.

·         Do not use the elevators.

·         Call the fire department or 911, when you're out of the building.

·         If you cannot get out of the building go back to your room, call 9-1-1, and tell them your location.

Did You Know:

·         Arson is the number one cause for fires on campuses.

·         An average of 1,500 fires occur in college housing each year.

·         Disabling a smoke detector is against the law.  It also disables your only early warning to a fire in your room.

·         All dorms must have sprinkler systems by 2013, according to Illinois State Law

Remember:

Protect yourself and your roommates before property and valuables.  Property and valuables can be replaced, lives cannot.

Don’t be afraid to questions and consider the answers when choosing a school.

For Further Information:   www.campus-firewatch.com

                                        www.campusfire.org

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