Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey is reminding North Carolinians about fire safety on college campuses as students return to school.
"It is important for students to be aware of common fire causes such as cooking, candles, smoking materials and electrical equipment,” said Causey. “As students return to campus, they find themselves in new living situations and need to assess potentially dangerous situations, locate fire extinguishers and test smoke alarms."
September has been declared Campus Fire Safety Month in North Carolina as an effort to raise fire and life safety awareness on college campuses. See full proclamation.
Since 2000, at least 171 people – including students, parents and children – have died in college-related fires; approximately 87 percent of these deaths occurred in off-campus occupancies.
The National Fire Protection Association provides these campus and dorm safety tips for college students:
- Look for fire sprinkler-equipped housing.
- Make sure there are fire alarms in each bedroom and outside every sleeping area.
- Test all smoke alarms monthly.
- Never remove batteries or disable an alarm.
- Learn your building’s evacuation plan and practice all drills.
- If you live off campus, have a fire escape plan with two ways out of every room.
- Stay in the kitchen when cooking.
- Use a surge protector for your computer and plug the protector directly into an outlet.
For more information, visit The Center for Campus Fire Safety at www.campusfiresafety.org and the National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.org.