Smoke alarms can’t save your life if they can’t do their job. Install them, test them, maintain them.

Watch these videos to learn more about smoke alarms and escape planning.

A student died in this fire. The smoke alarms had been taken down before the fire and the only working smoke alarm was in the basement.

To know…

  • You need to know this information for after when you are visiting friends who live off-campus and for when you move out of the residence halls.
  • This is only some of what you need to know. There is more information online at the links below.
  • Over four out of five of the campus-related fire fatalities and injuries happen off-campus. Think about this when you are visiting someone’s house.
  • What you learn here can save lives…yours, your friends, your roommates
  • Escape Planning
    • Always know two ways out, wherever you are.
    • The way you came in might be blocked when you try to get out.
    • Your second way out might be something like a window.
  • Automatic Fire Sprinklers
    • Fire sprinklers save lives, no two ways about it.
    • They can put out the fire within seconds, long before any fire department can get there.
    • Despite what you see in the movies, only one or two sprinklers will go off and they will put out the fire.
  • Smoke alarms
    • Smoke alarms in the residence halls, you don’t need to worry about testing them. Facilities will do that.
    • Do NOT cover them with anything. It puts you and everyone around you in danger if they can’t do their job.
    • When you move off-campus, make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home. They can save your life.

Action steps

  • Smoke alarms – install them, test them, maintain them. They can’t save your life if they can’t do their job. If you don’t have them, for the price of a pizza you can buy a smoke alarm.
  • Escape Planning – Know two ways out, no matter where you are. Your second way out may be a window. Be ready, know what to do before the emergency.

Links

There is a lot more that you can know to be fire safe. For more information, visit these links.