College Campus Fire Safety

Do you have a young adult you are sending off to college soon?  Did you know that there are 114 documented campus related fire fatalities since 2000?  

Each year college and university students, on-and off- campus, experience hundreds of fire-related emergencies nationwide.  There are several causes for fires on college campuses, including cooking, intentionally set fires, and open flame.  Overall, most college-related fires are due to a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention.  It's important that both off-campus and on-campus students, as well as their parents, understand fire risks and know the preventative measures that could save their lives. 

Here are some safety tips for you and your college student to review:

• Look for fully sprinklered housing when choosing a dorm or off-campus housing
• Make sure you can hear the building alarm system when you are in your dorm room.
• Know your escape plan!!  Know any obstacles you might encounter when escaping from a fire, especially at night when most fires occur.  You should have two ways out of every room.
• Avoid using lighted candles!
• Cook only where it is permitted and never unattended.
• Don't overload circuits.
• If a fire starts in a microwave, keep the door closed and unplug the unit.
• If you smoke, smoke outside.  Make sure cigarettes and ashes are completely out.
• If you have to escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit.  Before opening doors make sure they are not hot. NEVER use an elevator during a fire. 
• If you are trapped, call the fire department and tell them your location.  Seal your door with rags and signal from your window.

For more safety tips on college campuses, go to www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/college/

You can always call the NL Fire District at 815-463-4500 for additional learning tools and you can visit us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/NLFire?ref=hl and watch a youtube video of a dorm room fire demonstation.