Lock Haven University

Environmental Health and Safety

FIRE SAFETY IN THE RESIDENCE HALLS

This page contains important fire safety information for resident students.  A detailed fire evacuation plan for your hall is located.  Please familiarize yourself with this information to ensure that you can act quickly and decisively when a fire alarm sounds.

 

REVIEW THE EVACUATION PLAN WITH YOUR FLOORMATES AND RA

Creation of a safe environment is the responsibility of every community member.   Your RA will review the fire evacuation plan with your floor at the beginning of the year.  It is important that you also review this material independently with your room and floormates.  To avoid a crisis, talk about the following procedures:

  • Sleep with your bedroom doors CLOSED and locked at night.  A closed door will help slow the spread of fire, smoke and heat.  When leaving your room during an alarm, be sure to close and lock your door behind you.
  • The presence of smoke and/or heat will automatically activate the alarm system.  If you discover or suspect a fire, pull the alarm and begin evacuation.  If the alarm fails to operate, alert other residents by knocking on doors and shouting a warning.
  • When you hear the alarm, take a coat, shoes and a towel and prepare to evacuate.   Do not stop for personal belongings.  NEVER HIDE IN CLOSETS, UNDER BEDS OR IN SHOWERS TO AVOID EVACUATION.
  • Touch the surface of the door before opening it.  If it feels hot, do not open it.  DON'T PANIC.  STOP AND THINK BEFORE YOU START.  If the knob is warm, brace yourself against the door and open it slightly (fire can create enough pressure to push open a door if it is not held firmly).  If heat or heavy smoke is present in the hall, close the door and stay in the room.
  • If you cannot leave your room, seal cracks around doors and vents as best you can, using wet towels if possible.
  • If the door feels cool, open it just a crack to check for smoke.  If there is none, leave the building immediately by the established evacuation route.  Remember to crawl and keep your head down if there is smoke.
  • If the nearest exit is blocked by smoke, heat or fire, go to an alternate exit.
  • After exiting, move at least 50 feet away from the building, staying out of the fire lanes.  RA's and Public Safety officers will be on the scene to provide direction.   If this is not the case, go immediately to the closest emergency call box or phone and call Law Enforcement at 893-2278.
  • STAY OUT OF THE BUILDING until Law Enforcement or the Fire Chief has issued an all clear signal and you are given permission to return.

 

FIRE ALARMS & SAFETY EQUIPMENT

  • You may not disregard a fire alarm or fail to evacuate a building in which a fire alarm is sounding, regardless of its nature (drill, false alarm or actual alert).
  • Tampering with fire safety equipment (e.g. alarms, extinguishers, smoke detectors, sprinklers and emergency exit signs) is an exceptionally dangerous practice and represents a serious breach of community safety standards.
  • Failure to evacuate and tampering with fire safety equipment are violations of the "Student Code of Conduct".

FIRE DRILLS

  • Fire drills are intended to familiarize you with the sound of the fire alarm, the location of emergency exits and the procedures for evacuating the building.
  • During the year, several unannounced fire drills will be scheduled.
  • At the end of each drill, student rooms will be randomly checked to insure compliance with evacuation requirements.  Individuals who have failed to leave the building will be documented and subject to disciplinary action and/or a fine.
  • When you have guests, familiarize them with the location of fire exits and evacuation procedures.  Register their presence with your RA so they can be accounted for in the event of a fire emergency.

AVOID FIRE HAZARDS

  • SMOKING: Smoking is prohibited in resident halls.  Careless smoking is a major cause of fires.  Use proper ash trays.  DO NOT put cigarettes out in trash cans, on the floor, on furniture or in your pocket.  Never leave a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe unattended.  Always wait until ashes are dead and cold before putting them in trash cans.
  • ELECTRICAL OVERLOAD: Overloaded circuits, worn out cords and plugs and high voltage appliances can cause fires.  Always use UL approved items and avoid the use of octopus plugs.
  • ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES & FOOD PREPARATION: Check the Student Handbook for a summary of appliances approved for use in residence halls.  Never leave appliances unattended and unplug them after each use.
  • OPEN FLAMES: Candles (whether functional or decorative), incense and flammable liquids are prohibited in the residence halls.
  • TRASH: Trash should not be allowed to accumulate because it may cause a fire.
  • OBSTACLES: Leaving bikes or furniture in doorways, corridors or stairwells creates a fire safety hazard and is PROHIBITED.
  • PROPPING OF FIRE DOORS IS PROHIBITED: Fire doors close automatically when the alarm is activated.  This prevents the stairways from acting as a chimney and spreading smoke and fire through the building.  PROPPING OR BLOCKING FIRE DOORS is dangerous and a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.

 

FIRE SAFETY INSPECTIONS

Several times during the school year your Resident Assistant will conduct a fire safety inspection of your room.  If violations are found, you will receive a letter asking you to rectify the situation.  Failure to do so will result in the imposition of a fine and/or disciplinary action.