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Campus Fire Safety

Fire Procedures for University Housing

In the event of a fire alarm, do the following things:

1. Leave the building immediately--use the stairwells--not the elevator.
   
2. If you are a mobility-impaired person on an upper floor, proceed to the stairwell landing on your floor and instruct someone to notify emergency response personnel of your location.
   
3. NO personnel will be allowed to re-enter the building without permission of an appropriate University official or emergency personnel.

In the event of a fire, do the following things:

1. Assist any person in immediate danger to safety, if it can be accomplished without risk to yourself.
   
2. Immediately activate the building fire alarm system.
   
3. Evacuate the building immediately, and direct emergency personnel to the fire when they arrive.
   
4. Doors, and if possible, windows should be closed as the last person leaves a room or area.
   
5. Do not use elevators--use building stairwells.
   
6. When you hear the fire alarm sound, all personnel in the affected areas shall evacuate the building immediately.
   
7. Upon evacuating the building, residents shall proceed to an area (at least 150 feet from the affected building) where Resident Assistants are responsible for taking a head count and accounting for all residents.
   
8. NO residents will be allowed to re-enter the building without permission of an appropriate University official or emergency personnel.

Fire drills are conducted at least once a semester in all University Housing units.

Notes to remember in the event of a fire....

1. Before opening the door, feel it with the back of your hand. If it is hot, do the following:
   
   • Do not open the windows, unless you are having trouble breathing.
     
   • Seal cracks around the door with towels, tape, bed clothing or similar items to keep out the smoke.
     
   • If you are trapped, hang a sheet, jacket, shirt or other object out the window that will attract attention. Shout for help. Call the University Police on the phone and tell them that you are unable to get out of your room. The University Police will be in direct radio contact with officers at the fire. Remain calm until firefighters reach you from the hallway or window. Their first duty upon arriving at a fire is to search for persons trapped in the burning building.
     
2. If you are able to leave the room, do so immediately and:
   
   • Take your key with you in case you are forced to return. Close all doors behind you as you exit. This will retard the spread of smoke and lessen damage.
     
   • Go to the nearest exit or stairway.
     
   • If smoke, heat or fire blocks your exit, go to an alternate exit.
     
   • If all exits from a floor are blocked go back to your room and follow the procedures described above.
     
3. If smoke is present keep low to the floor. Take short breaths to avoid inhaling any more smoke than necessary.
   
4. After exiting the building, do not congregate at or around the building exits.
   
   DO NOT REENTER THE BUILDING FOR ANY REASON UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS DECLARED IT SAFE.