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Safety
College Fire Safety Tips
By
Aug 11, 2009 - 10:53:21 AM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Livingston, NJ -- This summer, as thousands of New Jersey students prepare to become freshmen in the “Class of 2013” at colleges and universities across the country, it is important to remember that fire prevention should play a part in that process.

There are approximately 1,700 fires per year in dormitories and Greek housing on United States college campuses. The majority of students who are killed in these fires have blood alcohol levels over the legal limit.

“Adolescence is a time of experimentation, frequently with alcohol and drugs. The combination of judgment-impairing substances and the sense of immortality that is inherent in this age group, often results in actions that have tragic consequences,” says Lisa Jones, Community Burn Educator for The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, New Jersey’s only state-certified burn treatment facility.

The leading causes of fire in these types of occupancies are smoking, electrical, arson, cooking and candles.

“While smoke detection alarms do a good job in alerting residents to the presence of a fire, the best defense is to practice fire prevention,” explains Ms. Jones.

The Saint Barnabas Burn Center has implemented a unique program that reaches out to high school students, mainly those in their senior year preparing for college, to educate them about fire awareness, prevention, and safety.

According to Ms. Jones, students need to accept responsibility for their personal safety and need to investigate the living conditions of the colleges they are considering as much as they question the school’s academic and social offerings.

Concerns When Living On Campus

When looking at on-campus housing, it is suggested that students ascertain the presence of working smoke alarms and sprinkler systems. Are there fire drills? Emergency exits should be clearly marked and residents of dorms should know the location of all these exits. Hallways and exits should be free of clutter and fire doors should never be propped open. Are rules enforced regarding smoking, candles and personal appliance use in rooms and common areas? Do the resident assistants know what to do in a fire situation?

In addition, the following factors may contribute to the problem of dormitory housing fires:

Improper use of 911 notification systems delays emergency response.
Student apathy is prevalent. Many are unaware that fire is a risk or threat in the environment.
Evacuation efforts are hindered since fire alarms are often ignored.
Building evacuations are delayed due to lack of preparation and preplanning.
Vandalized and improperly maintained smoke alarms and fire alarm systems inhibit early detection of fires.
Misuse of cooking appliances, overloaded electrical circuits and extension cords increase the risk of fires.
Off-Campus Housing Concernspremises, but they also need to investigate much more. Do the windows open? Is the electricity up to code? Are there two ways out of the building? Has the building been inspected and approved by the local safety authority?

According to Campus Fire Watch, 78 percent of students live in off-campus housing which poses more risks since the school has no jurisdiction in regulating the conditions. Students must look at more than location and price when renting. They need to once again determine if there are adequate working smoke detectors on the

Common factors for fire-related deaths in off-campus housing such as rented houses and apartments include:

Lack of automatic fire sprinklers.
Missing or disabled smoke alarms.
Careless disposal of smoking materials.
Alcohol consumption.
Additional Tips

The following are important tips The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas and Ms. Jones gives to both the parents of a dorm-bound student and future dormitory residents themselves.

Always heed fire alarms
Only call/pull fire alarm when there is a true emergency
Know the locations of fire exits in any building you enter
Always have an escape plan
Keep hallways and exits clutter-free
Remain calm
Notify others of a fire
Once you escape a burning building, do not reenter
Maintain working smoke alarms
For more information about burn prevention and fire safety, please visit The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center website, www.njburncenter.com, or call the Saint Barnabas Burn Outreach and Education office at 973-322-8071.

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