Fire Safety and Extinguisher Use
The responsibility of living away from home includes personal fire safety.
- Learn each campus building's evacuation plan.
- Participate in fire drills as if they were the real thing.
- Activate the fire alarm and evacuate the building immediately if you discover a fire or smell smoke.
- Check your room door before opening by using the back of your hand. Do not open the door if the handle is hot.
- Stay in your room and seal the base of the door with a towel or sheet.
- Call 911.
- Turn on your room lights and raise the blinds.
- Check for smoke and fire outside your window. If it is safe to do so, open your window and hang a sheet outside to alert firefighters to your location.
- Stop, drop and roll if your clothes catch on fire. Cover your face and roll from side to side until the flames are smothered.
Building Evacuation
Some campus emergencies, including gas leaks and building fires, may require building evacuation. During a building evacuation, follow these steps:
- Calmly evacuate the building when instructed by fire alarm or other alert notification method.
- Retreat to a safe place or pre-arranged muster point outside the building.
- Identify a location where you and your co-workers/classmates will check-in with each other.
- Remain in your safe location until everyone is accounted for and notify emergency responders if you think someone may be trapped.
- Do not re-enter the building until emergency personnel determine it is safe.
Using a Fire Extinguisher
- Only use a fire extinguisher if you are comfortable with your ability to effectively fight the fire
- If you decide to use the fire extinguisher remember to position yourself between the fire and the exit
- Remember PASS: Pull the pin – Aim for the base of the fire – Squeeze the handle – Sweep from side to side
Additional Fire Safety Rules
Plan fire escape routes
- Know where all exits are located in the building and plan two escape routes
- Practice your escape plan
- Do not use the elevators
Feel the door handle
- If the door handle is hot, don’t open it - go to a window and call for help
- If the handle is not hot, open cautiously checking for smoke or fire before going out
Don’t look for other people or gather up your things
- Beat on doors and yell “FIRE” as you leave
- Don’t hesitate or stray from your path as you leave
Crawl low to the floor
- Thick smoke can make it impossible to see – breathe through your nose or through a shirt
- Do not breathe the smoke - toxic chemicals from smoke can be deadly in minutes
Close the door behind you
- You may help keep the fire from spreading
- You may protect your possessions from fire and smoke damage
If you can’t get out, get someone’s attention
- Yell and scream
- Hang a sheet out of the window and then close the window tightly to hold it in place
- Stay low, there is less smoke and poisonous gasses close to the floor. Use wet towels to block smoke from entering the room
