Equipment
It is a
serious offense to tamper with fire safety equipment. Individuals who are found
tampering with the fire alarms, extinguishers, smoke detectors or other fire
prevention equipment or pulling the fire alarm under false pretenses will be
subject to swift and decisive disciplinary action with eviction from
College-owned housing being the most viable sanction. Do not tamper with the
fire/life safety equipment.
Fire
extinguishers are located throughout the residence halls and apartment
buildings. They are to be used only in the event of a fire. They are considered
fire equipment and are not to be disturbed. Do not tamper with the fire
extinguishers or use them for anything other than to extinguish a fire.
Exit signs
are located strategically throughout the buildings. Their purpose is to
indicate exit routes, particularly in emergency situations.聽 Do not remove or tamper with any of these
signs.
Evacuation
Specific
evacuation procedures for each building will be explained by the Residence Life
Staff at the first floor meeting and are posted in the building. When the fire
alarm sounds, the building must be thoroughly and immediately evacuated with no
exceptions. Failure to do so may result in Conduct Action.
After the
fire alarm sounds, Public Safety is automatically notified. Do not panic.聽 Please familiarize yourself with the
emergency procedures for your building as soon as you move in.聽 Follow these simple instructions:
1.
Turn off room lights except for ceiling light.聽
Leave blinds (and curtains) open.
2.
Close windows and lock door.聽
3.
Grab a coat, shoes and a towel to cover your face and head and leave in an
orderly fashion as instructed in the evacuation procedures.聽
4.
Walk quickly and quietly and use the closest exits.聽
5.
Stand away from the building at the designated area. The Residence Life Staff
will inform students when they may return to the building. Deliberately
remaining in a building during an evacuation is a danger to yourself and to
others who will enter the building to find you. This policy also applies to
fire drills. Students found in buildings when a fire alarm is active may be
subject to Conduct Action.
6. The Residence Life Staff will check each room to make
certain that everyone has evacuated (as the nature of the emergency permits).
If a
fire is outside your room/apartment and it is unsafe to exit:
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 1. Crack a window and remain near
the opened window.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 2.
Hang a bed sheet or any large light-colored cloth out the window. This will
signal your location to emergency personnel.聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 3. Keep close to the floor and near
the outside wall.聽 Remember, smoke rises.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 4. Do
not panic. Remain calm and cooperate with the staff and emergency personnel
during emergencies
Prevention
The best fire safety starts with
prevention. To prevent fires and accidents residents must use common sense and
follow these simple guidelines:
-
Smoking is prohibited in College-owned buildings and on-campus.
- Use only UL-approved electrical appliances. Use caution when using these
appliances. Do not leave electrical appliances unattended
- Halogen lamps are not permitted
in College-owned housing facilities.聽
- Make certain that materials used for decorating purposes are fireproof or fire
retardant.聽
Open
flames of any type, including candles, the burning of incense, coals,
possession of combustible chemicals including propane and other fuels and the
use of multiple (鈥渙ctopus鈥) electrical adapters, appliances with frayed wires
and ungrounded electrical appliances are not permitted inside residential
facilities.聽聽 For a complete list of
items and practices prohibited in residential facilities under the fire code,
please refer back to the Electrical Appliances section.
Prohibited
practices involving fire safety include: any modification of existing
electrical equipment such as outlets, light fixtures, wiring, etc.; running
electrical cords under carpeting; running electrical cords through a doorway or
window; connecting high wattage appliances or other electronic equipment to
outlets by extension cords that do not contain breaker switches; decorating a
student room by hanging or placing items such as tapestries, flags, or posters
on the ceiling or in a way which covers vents on appliances or electronic
equipment; overloading an electrical outlet; any practice which constitutes a
fire hazard (i.e., careless use of smoking materials, etc.).
Residents
are not permitted to leave belongings in the hallways, stairwells and/or common
areas as this creates an obstacle to safe access to and from the building.
A fire
drill is conducted at least once each semester for each residence hall and
house. All persons in the building must participate in the drill and evacuate
the building. The purpose of the fire drill is to acquaint residents with a
rapid and orderly means of exit during an emergency. Participation in fire
drills is mandatory. Residents who do not comply with this procedure are
subject to conduct action. Residents are to follow evacuation procedures as
listed above.
Fire
Safety policies will be enforced through casual observation and announced
periodic fire safety inspections of residential facilities by Residence Life
staff. Materials and items prohibited from campus that are found in residence
hall rooms will be confiscated, receipted, and held in a secure place until the
owner safely removes them from campus at the time of check-out. Violations of
this policy will be addressed through the College conduct process.