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Recent data from the United States Fire Administration identified university
students as an “at risk” population because their rate of deaths due
to fire is approximately 40 times that of the general public. Disasters
such as the Seton Hall University dormitory fire and off-campus fires
at UNC Chapel Hill have illustrated this.
- Call 911 as soon as a fire is identified and know how to give
accurate directions to your residence.
- Know your building’s evacuation alarm location.
- Report any vandalism or damage to fire safety equipment such as
fire extinguishers, fire alarms and emergency lights.
- Never flick cigarette butts into combustable materials or mulch (such as pine straw, wood chips, etc.) outside. Dispose of cigarette butts only in the correct receptacles, such as indoor and outdoor ashtrays.
- Never leave cooking food unattended. (Cooking accounts for the
majority of off-campus fires.)
- Do not overload extension cords.
- Make sure there are functioning smoke alarms in every bedroom of
your residence and test them frequently.
- Have at least two emergency routes out of your residence.
- If the residence has a gas dryer, stove or heat, make sure at least
one carbon monoxide detector is located nearby.
- Do not smoke in bed. Soak cigarette butts in water before
placing in the trash. After a party, check furniture for cigarette
butts. (Smoking is the second leading cause of off-campus fires.)
- Do not leave candles unattended or near curtains or paper.
- Never use an elevator during a fire.
- Crawl with your head one to two feet above the floor if the room is filled with smoke.
- Have a working fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
Using Fire Extinguishers: Remember “P.A.S.S.”
P..... Pull the pin.
A..... Aim the nozzle at the base of the flames.
S..... Squeze trigger while holding the extinguisher upright.
S..... Swep the extinguisher from side to side, covering
the area of the fire with the extinguishing agent
Read the following two articles from The Seahawk about the importance of fire safety and renter's insurance:
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