EVACUATION AND LIFE SAFETY SURVIVAL SKILLS

                                           FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

 

 

Soon college students will be going off to college again, some will live in dormitories, some in off-campus housing. Listed below are fire protection and fire safety practices that can save lives.

 

LIFE SAFETY SURVIVAL SKILLS

Upon hearing a building fire alarm, the first life safety survival skill begins before opening your room door by following steps 1 and 2.

 

1. Feel the top of the door with the back of your hand for heat and/or look through the door vision hole:

  • If not hot open the door slowly by viewing onto the corridor at a level below
    the doorknob. This allows you not to breathe in any potential smoke that may
    be present. Take your room key:
  • If smoke and heat are present crawl low to the exit and evacuate the building.
    Count the number of doors to the stairwell.

If you encounter heavy smoke in the stairwell, use an alternate stairwell or go back to
your room and follow steps below.

 

  1. If after feeling heat at the top of the door, feel the doorknob, if doorknob is hot, do not open door:
  • Stuff towels, clothing under door and continue sealing around the door.
    if possible continually wet the cloths or use duct tape to seal door openings.
  • Call 911, give exact location of the building, the floor level and room number as well as the number of people in room.
  • Wave a white towel or clothing out window to signal attention.
  • If a smoke condition comes into room open double hung windows 6 inches from top and bottom and breathe air from the bottom of window. If a slide or crank out
    window open a few inches. Break glass only as a last resort, flame and smoke from a fire below may enter the room.

 

Special considerations for off campus housing:

    1. Are smoke detectors present and working properly?
    2. Is a sprinkler system installed?
    3. Are there at least two ways to exit your living space?
    4. Is the bedroom door(s) from the living space fire rated?
    5. Is a carbon monoxide detector present?
    6. Are fire drills conducted?

 

Always report anyone tampering with a fire alarm or anyone causing repeated false alarms. An anonymous report due to the serious nature will be taken seriously.

 

 

 

Designate people to do fire prevention check after a party:

After having guest make sure all smoking materials are properly extinguished. Soaking them in water overnight is a good idea. Check couch and chair cushions for cigarette ashes. Remove all trash and or other hazards to the exterior. Remove these items far enough from the dwelling that should a fire start it will not jeopardize the building. Never keep overstuffed furniture or mattresses that have caught fire inside the building or on porches, even if you think the fire is out. It can take a couple of hours before visible fire breaks out again. Always call the fire department to check these items before bringing them back inside the building.

 

NEVER TURN OFF FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS AT THE ELECTRIC BRAKER BOX OR REMOVE BATTERIES FROM SMOKE DETECTORS, REPORT ANYONE WHO DOES.

 

If you have questions about campus fire safety or any other fire safety issue please feel free to call me at 908-204-3094 or e-mail me at jlake@bernards.org

 

Janet Lake, Fire Official

Bernards Township