The dream of moving into your own space, celebrating frosh week and experiencing all things new and exciting will soon be a reality for many college and university students in the coming days. We want to offer a few fire safety tips to ensure your move and stay is fire safe and worry-free:

Be sure to always leave a clear walkway by keeping boxes, trash and clothing neatly stored and/or in their respective places. Practice common sense when unpacking, i.e. don’t hang clothes off of sprinkler heads or over heaters. Clothing and other debris not properly stored can form a combustible pile or even delay or prevent you from escaping a fire.

Follow the rules. Many schools forbid the use of hot plates, toasters, microwaves, and other cooking equipment in rooms. If your school does allow you any of these items, be sure to never leave cooking unattended, unplug cooking equipment when it is not in use, and keep baking soda or a small fire extinguisher handy. Furthermore, be sure to keep equipment clean and at a safe distance from curtains and other loose materials i.e. paper, trash, etc.

Smoking and burning candles join cooking fires as some of the leading causes of fire incidents and fatalities in dorm rooms, which is why it is strictly prohibited in most colleges and universities. From failing to put out a cigarette properly to falling asleep with a lit candle, the risks are too many to overlook. There are hefty fines for disobeying rules – but nothing is as costly as the loss of a life.

There are sometimes pranks to set off fire alarms or even practice drills that can interrupt your day, but you must always take fire safety seriously.  Never ignore alarms and practice fire escape plans at every opportunity – you never know when an actual emergency will occur.

Follow these tips and the rules created by your college or university and help limit the risk of fire incidents. Have a great school year, and we hope you pass with flying colors!