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Jonathan Williams | The Appalachian
Seth Dancy, a junior marketing major from Huntersville, checks the batteries in his fire alarm of his apartment. |
Fire safety tips for students
by Amanda Fowler
Staff Writer
Nearly 4,000 civilians lost their lives and more than 18,000 sustained injuries as the result of fire last year, according to statistics from the U.S. Fire Administration.
It is difficult for students to realize that if proper precautions are not taken they could be included in this vast number of people affected by fire.
Students, whether living on campus or off campus, tend to look at their place of residence as someone else's responsibility because students are not typically owners.
Although many students toss the Code of Conduct and other materials they are given aside, following these rules is the first step toward a safer environment, Appalachian State University safety inspector Beth S. Clark said.
It is important to be mindful of these materials and the other fire safety precautions taken, Clark said.
"Always take the fire alarms seriously," Clark said. "I know it's easy, the more false alarms that are in a building, the more people take them for granted and think 'maybe it's just another false alarm.'"
Each residence hall on campus is subject to about three fire drills each year, Clark said. These are typically conducted in the late afternoon or early evening so they do not inconvenience students. It is also done at that time to teach students what to do in the event of a fire.
Ways to Prevent Fires
- Always take fire alarms seriously
- Never leave food unattended
- Be sure apartments have smoke detectors, and they are functioning properly
- Know the location of fire extinguishers (renters are entitled by law to have one)
- Give heaters 18 inches of space from other objects
- Create an escape plan with more than one route
- Keep cigarettes away from beds, and water down ashes before disposing
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On average, there are about five fire incidents on campus each year, most of them low-scale, Clark said.
According to statistics from Clark, cooking in residence halls is a major contributor to the fire alarms experienced on campus. During fall semester, there were 52 fire alarms. That number includes Appalachian Heights and Mountaineer Apartments. Out of these, 29 were contributed to cooking.
Many students leave their food unattended while it is cooking, Clark said. If students would stay by their food, many of these alarms could have been prevented.
Michael D. Roark, the fire prevention specialist with Town of Boone Fire Department, said that one of the best ways to safety proof any residence is to add smoke detectors.
"By installing and maintaining a working smoke detector you increase your chances of surviving a home fire by 50 percent," Roark said. "The more detectors that you install, the closer you can get those odds up to the 90, 95 percent range."
Most fatal fires occur at night, Roark said, increasing the importance of correctly placing smoke detectors.
Detectors are important even in resident hall rooms, but for students with multiple room residences, such as a house or apartment, there are a few tips to follow.
Detectors should be placed in common areas, hallways leading to sleeping areas, directly outside sleeping areas and inside sleeping areas. This gives full coverage, Roark said.
Once the smoke detectors are in place, they should be properly maintained. Roark said detectors should be checked once a week and the batteries should be changed twice a year.
Renters should also be aware of what they are entitled to by law. Landlords are required by state law to provide a working smoke detector as well as a fire extinguisher, Roark said.
These laws may not apply to all buildings, Harold Tilley with Appalachian Management said. But, despite requirements, Tilley said that Appalachian Management provides working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to all renters.
Renters should also consider what kind of heat they have. During the winter months, Roark said, heating is a big cause of fires. These units should be given 18 inches of clearance space. Furniture, clothes and anything combustible should never be pushed up against the units, Roark said.
Escape plans in the event of a fire may seem like something parents would stress with their children but already having an established route will help with the split second decisions that must me made in the event of an emergency.
Roark suggested that an escape plan include two exits. This could seem difficult for those who live in apartments, especially if the residence is not on a lower level. However, having another escape route it is still possible.
Home escape ladders are an option. The ladders hook on a window and then can be thrown down. These can be an expensive option, though, as Roark said they could run $60 and higher.
In the event of a fire when the primary escape choice in apart of the fire, there is still an option. Close the nearest door to prevent smoke from entering the room then open a window throw down whatever is nearest.
"When the fire department gets on the scene the first thing we do is a walk-around of the whole building," Roark said. "If I'm walking around the building and I start seeing clothes, books, stereo equipment, things that aren't supposed to be there, my first reaction is to look up."
This will show the fire department that someone is trapped and they will automatically decide on an escape plan.
Roark also said to tale extra precaution when dealing with cigarettes. Cigarettes should be kept away from beds and couches because a dropped ash could smolder inside the fabric before a fire shows itself, Roark said.
When an ashtray is being emptied into a trashcan, the cigarettes should be watered down to prevent fires.
Many of the small fires that have occurred on campus throughout the years have been contributed to cigarettes, Clark said.
Though possible emergencies like fires may be in the back of many people's minds a few easy steps in preparation may make the difference.
"The secret of a good fire department is prevention and education," David T. Shervington, with Housing and Residence Life, said. "It's more fun to do prevention and education than it is to actually get the red truck out."
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