Campus Fire Safety for Students
The Connecticut Fire Academy’s suggested theme for fire safety for September is “Campus Fire Safety.” According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), September and October are the peak months for fires in dormitory properties, with cooking being the main cause of these fires. Fires most commonly occur during the evening hours between 4 p.m. and 12 a.m. and on weekends. NFPA and the Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) recommend the following when choosing a dorm or off-campus housing for students:
- Be sure you can hear the building alarm system when you are in your dorm room.
- If you live in a dormitory, make sure your sleeping room has a smoke alarm, or your dormitory suite has a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm in each living area as well as the sleeping room.
- If you live in an apartment or house, make sure smoke and CO alarms are installed in each sleeping room, outside every sleeping area, and on each level of the apartment unit or house. For best protection, all smoke alarms in the apartment unit or house should be interconnected so that when one sounds, they all sound.
- Assure that all exits, hallways and stairs are clear.
- Never remove batteries from or disable the smoke or CO alarms.
- Learn your building’s evacuation plan and practice all drills as if they were the real thing.
- If you live off campus, have a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.
- Check your school’s rules before using electrical devices / appliances in your room.
- Keep combustible items away from heat sources and never overload electrical outlets, extension cords, or power strips. Many fires are caused by portable light and heat sources, like space heaters and halogen lamps.
- Use battery-operated flameless candles. They can look, smell and feel just like real candles.
- Leave quickly when the fire/smoke alarm sounds. Time retrieving items increases your chances of being trapped. Leave everything and GO.
- When charging electronic devices: Only use the battery and charging cord that is designed for the device. Do not charge under your pillow, on your bed, or on a couch. And do not continue charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.
STAY FIRE SAFE!