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Campus Fire Safety
Top Safety Tips
- Use flameless candles for decorations.
- Never ignore fire alarms. Ge out and stay out when they sound.
- Have a fire escape plan that includes two ways out.
- Make sure your exits and exit paths are free of clutter. Make sure windows and doors open easily.
- Always stay in the kitchen when cooking. Never cook while tires or under the influence.
- Check your school’s rules before using electrical appliances in your room.
Did you know?
Four out of five college fire fatalities happens in off-campus housing, according to Campus Firewatch.
The leading causes of campus fires includes cooking, arson and careless smoking.
Roughly six out of seven fires in dormitories are started by cooking.
Campus fires are most common between 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm.
Campfire Safety
Did you know?
Approximately 60% of wildfires in Idaho are human caused.
Top Safety Tips
Keep campfires at least 25 feet away from any structure that can burn.
Avoid burning on windy, dry days.
Keep a campfire small which is easier to control.
Use a fire ring and build your fire at least five feet away from any combustible materials.
Keep a bucket of water near by to put out the fire.
Keep a kid-free zone of three feet around the campfire.
Never leave your campfire unattended.
Always make sure your campfire is completely out before leaving the area.
Check burning restrictions at Idaho Fire Info before starting your campfire.
Barn Fire Safety
Tips to keep your barn safe
- Make sure heat lamps and space heaters are kept a safe distance from anything that can burn.
- Heaters should be on a sturdy surface where they cannot fall over.
- Use electrical equipment that is labeled for agricultural or commercial use.
- Make sure all wiring is free from damage.
- Extension cords are not used in the barn.
- Lightbulbs must have covers to protect them from dust, moisture, and breakage.
- Routinely check for damages quickly and repair with safety in mind.
- Dust and remove cobwebs around electrical outlets and equipment.
- Oily rags should be stored in a closed, metal container away from heat.
- Feed, hay, straw, and flammable liquids should be stored away from the main barn.
- The barn is a smoke-free zone.
- Exits are clearly marked and pathways are clear.
- Fire drills are held frequently with everyone who uses the barn.
- Workers should be trained to use fire extinguishers.
- Everyone in the barn knows personal safety is the first priority if a fire breaks out.
- Hazard checks should take place on a set schedule.
The following safety equipment may be required by local building codes and will help protect your barn. Install and maintain:
- ABC-type fire extinguishers near every exit and within 50 feet from any point in the barn.
- Fire alarm system
- Sprinkler system
- Carbon monoxide detection system
Apartment Fire Safety
If you live in an apartment or condominium you need to know how to get out quickly if a fire starts. Follow these steps to stay safe.
If you live in an apartment or condominium you need to know how to get out quickly if a fire starts. Follow these steps to stay safe.
Building Fire Safety
- Don’t prop open exit or stairway doors. These are installed to slow the spread of heat and smoke if
there is a fire. - Speak to your apartment manager if you see a damaged smoke alarm, fire extinguisher or an
emergency light that has burned out.
Be Prepared
- Create an escape plan. Discuss how you will get outside. Practice your plan.
- Count the number of doors there are between your apartment and the nearest fire exit. Memorize the number in case you have to find the exit in the dark.
- Know where all the exit doors and stairs are on your floor.
- Learn your building evacuation plan if you have one. Create and practice an escape plan for your own apartment.
Stay Calm
- In the event of a fire, stay calm. Move to the exit as you have practiced. Call the fire department once you are outside.
- If your door feels warm to the touch, do not attempt to open it. Call 9-1-1 and tell the dispatcher your apartment number and that you can’t open your door.
- Stuff the cracks around the door with towels, rags, bedding, or tape. Cover vents.
Wait at a window and signal for help with a flashlight or by waving a white cloth. - If your apartment door is cool to the touch, open it slowly. Stay low and check for smoke or fire in the hallway. If the hallway is safe, follow your building’s evacuation plan.
- Never use an elevator to escape a fire. Always use the stairs.
Wait Outside for the Fire Department
- Once you are outside, move away from the building. Give firefighters and fire trucks plenty of space.
- Stay outside. Do not go back inside for any reason.
- If you think someone is still inside, tell firefighters where you think they are.
- Wait until firefighters tell you it’s safe to go back inside.
9-Volt Battery Safety
9-volt batteries power our smoke alarms, household items and toys. They can be found in most homes. But these batteries can be a fire hazard if not stored safely or disposed of with care.
What you need to know:
- 9-volt batteries can be dangerous. The positive and negative posts are close together. If a metal object touches the two posts of a 9-volt battery, it can cause a short circuit. This can make enough heat to start a fire.
- It is unsafe to store 9-volt batteries in a drawer near paper clips, coins, pens, or other batteries. Do not store common household items such as steel wool, aluminum foil, and keys near 9-volt batteries. If these items touch the two posts, there is a greater risk of a fire starting.
- Weak batteries may have enough charge to cause a fire. Some fires have started in trash when 9-volt batteries were thrown away with other metal items.
How to store 9-volt batteries:
- Keep batteries in original packaging until you are ready to use them. If loose, keep the posts covered with masking, duct, or electrical tape. Prevent the posts from coming in contact with metal objects.
- Keep them someplace safe where they won’t be tossed around.
- Store batteries standing up.
- 9-volt batteries should not be stored loose in a drawer. Do not store them in containers with other batteries.
How to properly dispose 9-volt batteries:
- 9-volt batteries should not be thrown away with trash. They can come in contact with other batteries or pieces of metal.
- 9-volt batteries can be taken to a collection site for household hazardous waste.
- To be safe, cover the positive and negative posts with masking, duct, or electrical tape before getting rid of batteries.
- Some states do not allow any type of battery to be disposed of with trash. Check with your city or town for the best way to get rid of batteries.
Electrical Water Safety
KNOW THE RISKS!
Electrocution is death by an electrical shock. Be aware when skin is wet or when surrounding surfaces, such as the grass or pool deck, are wet. Wet skin or wet surfaces can greatly increase the chance of electrocution when electricity is present.
There are several signs of electrical shock. Swimmers may feel a tingling sensation. They may experience muscle cramps. They may not be able to move. They may feel as if something is holding them in place.
If you think someone in the water is being shocked, turn off all power, but do not attempt to go in the water. Use a fiberglass or other kind of rescue hook that doesn’t conduct electricity to help the swimmer. Have someone call 9-1-1.
If you think you are being shocked while in the water move away from the of the shock. Get out of the water.
- If you are putting in a new pool, hot tub, or spa, be sure the wiring is performed by an electrician experienced in the special safety requirements for these types of installations.
- Outdoor receptacles must have covers that keep them dry even when appliances are plugged into them.
- Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are special devices designed to protect against electric shock and electrocution. They are required for most pool, spa, or hot tub equipment. They may be in the form of an outlet or a circuit breaker. Test the GFCIs monthly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Electrical appliances, equipment, and cords should be kept at least 6 feet away from the water. When possible, use battery operated appliances and equipment, such as televisions, radios, and stereos.
- Avoid handling electrical devices when you are wet.
- Make sure that any overhead lines maintain the proper distance over a pool and other structures, such as a diving board. If unsure, contact a qualified electrician or your local utility company to make sure power lines are a safe distance away.
- Do not swim during a thunderstorm.
- Have a qualified electrician periodically inspect and— where necessary—replace or upgrade the electrical devices or equipment that keep your pool, spa, or hot tub electrically safe.
- Have a qualified electrician show you how to turn off all power in case of an emergency.
Disability Fire Safety
Everyone in the home should stay safe from fire.
Home Fire Sprinklers
Home fire sprinklers protect lives by keeping fires small. Sprinklers allows people more time to escape in a fire. When choosing an apartment or home, look for one that has home fire sprinklers.
Smoke Alarms
- Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room. They should also be outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
- Test your smoke alarm at least once a month by pushing the test button. If you can’t reach the alarm, ask for help.
- For added safety, interconnect the smoke alarms. If one sounds, they all sound. This gives more time to escape.
- Smoke alarms with sealed (long-life) batteries work for up to 10 years. They can be helpful for people who find it hard to change batteries.
- Smoke alarms expire. Replace them every 10 years.
- Smoke alarms and alert devices are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Strobe lights flash when the smoke alarm sounds. The lights warn people of a possible fire.
- When people who are deaf are asleep, a pillow or bed shaker can wake them so they can escape. The shaker is activated by the sound of a smoke alarm.
- When people who are hard of hearing are asleep, an alert device that uses a loud, mixed, low-pitched sound can wake them. They may find a pillow or bed shaker helpful. These devices are triggered by the sound of the smoke alarm.
- Research the products and select the ones that best meet your needs.
People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Smoke alarms and alert devices are available for people who are deaf or hard or hearing.
- Strobe lights flash when the smoke alarm sounds. The lights warn people of a possible fire.
- When people who are deaf are asleep, a pillow or bed shaker can wake them so they can escape.
- When people who are hard of hearing are asleep, a loud, mixed, low-pitched sound alert device can wake them. A pillow or bed shaker may be helpful. These devices are triggered by the sound of the smoke alarm.
Escape Planning
Include everyone in home escape planning. Each person should have input about the best ways to escape. Home fire drills are important. Everyone in the home must participate in them. Keep a phone by your bed in case you can’t escape and need to call for help.
Talk with someone from the fire department about your escape plan.
Ask them review your plan. Ask if your fire department keeps a directory of people who may need extra help. If you have a service animal, agree on a plan to keep the animal with
WHERE TO FIND EQUIPMENT
Search home improvement store websites or use a general search engine to look for strobe light smoke alarms. BRK/First Alert, Gentex, and Kidde brands offer this type of smoke alarm. Find smoke alarm accessories such as pillow or bed shakers, transmitters, and receivers at lifetonesafety.com, safeawake.com and silentcall.com. Choose devices that have the label of a
recognized testing laboratory.
CFL Bulb Safety
Purchase CFL light bulbs that have the listing label of a recognized testing laboratory. Light bulbs labeled by a recognized testing lab will ensure that the bulb meets the latest product safety standards.
When a CFL Burns Out
When a CFL bulb burns out it may smoke and the plastic base may blacken. This is normal and is not a fire safety issue.
CFLs should never be discarded with household trash. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that consumers use local recycling options for CFLs. Contact your local government or visit https://www.epa.gov/cfl to identify recycling options.
If a CFL Breaks
CFLs are made of glass and can break. Be careful when removing from packaging and installing or removing from a socket. If a CFL breaks:
- OPEN a window to allow the room to air out for 5–10 minutes.
- People and pets should LEAVE the room.
- TURN OFF forced air heating and/or air conditioning.
- COLLECT broken glass and visible powder using stiff cardboard, tape or a damp paper towel.
- PLACE the debris in a glass jar or a plastic bag in a safe location outside until you can dispose of it.
- CONTACT your local government to find out how to dispose of the debris.
- CONTINUE airing out the room for several hours.
CFL bulbs contain a small trace of mercury within the glass. When broken, mercury will immediately dissipate into the air. Concentrations of mercury will likely approach zero in an hour or so.