The freedom and new life opportunities presented by living on one’s own is a powerful and positive force for many college students. However, many students aren’t thinking about fire safety while they’re away at school, and this lack of awareness can lead to trouble. At Liberty Mutual, we’re always doing our homework to provide you with helpful information that can help make your family safer, at home or away. We hope that you share this article on with a college kid you know and love.
What’s behind campus fire emergencies?
Fires occur on campus for many of the same reasons they do at home, and for reasons unique to college life. They also tend to occur around the same times, from 5-10pm in the evening and on weekends. Here are some other facts worth knowing about fire on campus:
- Overloaded electrical circuits and extension cords are often a source.
- Cooking appliances such as microwave ovens or hot plates that are left on or unattended are dangerous.
- Fire alarms are often ignored (just another test, right?) or go unheard by many students.
- Students are unfamiliar with 911 or other campus-specific emergency notification procedures.
- Many students have no evacuation plan for their campus residence or are unaware that their dorm or apartment building may have one.
General safety tips worth studying.
To help make life during the college years a little safer, we had our experts come up with this list of common sense fire safety tips for students. There won’t be a test, but these tips are good to know and share.
- Choose housing options with sprinkler systems.
- Learn how to safely operate and care for cooking appliances; always keep manufacturer-provided information on hand for reference.
- Know if 911 or another notification system is used on campus and what information should be provided in an emergency services call.
- Use extension cords properly and avoid overloading circuits.
- Ensure smoke detectors and fire alarms are installed on all floors, especially in or near sleeping areas.
- Know fire evacuation routes and keep these paths clear of bicycles or other obstructions.
- Always participate in fire drills.
- Never ignore a fire alarm.
- Test smoke alarms regularly (such as after holiday vacations or spring break) and change batteries at the beginning of each new school term.
- Keep flashlights rather than candles around for use in a power outage or other emergency.
Care and use of candles or incense.
Whether to create a relaxing environment or as means of freshening things up a bit in group living situations, candles and incense can be a very popular dorm room or apartment accessory. To avoid a fire, follow this safety advice:
- Use candles only where not prohibited by campus policy or the lease agreement.
- Always place candles or incense in stable holders on a table or other clutter-free area.
- Keep all flames away from flammable materials such as curtains, posters or furniture.
- Never leave a burning candle or incense unattended.
- Extinguish flames and make sure they are not smoldering before leaving the room.
- Consider purchasing wickless candles or scented air fresheners as an alternative to traditional wax candles or incense.
Aspiring cooks take note.
Many students can’t wait to leave dining hall food behind them. If there’s cooking going on in the dorm room or apartment, special care should be taken. These cooking safety tips may be useful for apprentice college cooks:
- Use appliances according to the manufacturer’s instructions and, if unfamiliar with their operation, get advice before attempting to use them.
- Always stay in the kitchen while cooking.
- Keep the stove and countertop free of clutter such as paper towels, food packaging and cleaning cloths.
- Don’t cook when sleepy or when under the influence of alcohol or medicine.
- Get permission or check for restrictions before using charcoal or gas grills, outdoor cookers or fireplaces to prepare food.
Special considerations for students who smoke.
Although many campuses no longer permit smoking in or around public buildings, the fire dangers of smoking have not moved on from the college scene. For those that do choose to smoke, there are several things to consider:
- Only smoke in designated areas, ideally outside away from all buildings – public or private.
- Use ashtrays or cigarette butt collection receptacles they should be large, sturdy, and filled with sand or another non-flammable material.
- Never smoke in bed.
- Avoid smoking when drowsy or after consuming alcohol.
Additional reference material.
Liberty Mutual is happy to share what the experts have to say on many topics. Campus fire safety is no exception. Here are some related links to review with the college student in your life: