Randy,
The Kent City Fire Department and I are using a smoke machine this year to
train the RD and RA's. We are going to smoke one of the floors of a dorm to
demonstrate how smoke travels down the hall and in the rooms. Our main
point in doing this is for them to enforce to the students the importance
of closing their doors and to be able to keep smoke from entering their
rooms if they become trapped. We also will video tape the demonstration. In
the past we have had two major dorm fires. In one fire the entire floor was
lost because the students left their door open and the fire spread down the
hall and into other rooms. Ten people had to be treated at the hospital.
The other fire the student closed his door and the fire was contained to
that room.
In the beginning of each semester I conduct fire drills in every dorm.
About the question about fire extinguishers and training. I train about 250
and 300 people (maintenance, security aids, some lab personnel)every year
in the operation of fire extinguishers and fire alarm system ( no one can
reset a active system except for the police and or the fire department).
About the question concerning fire extinguishers in the labs. This is a big
problem, in our labs everyone uses the fire extinguishers for coat racks or
they store other equipment in front of them so that nobody can get to them.
We tried to enforce the importance of keeping these fire extinguishers
clear and they are not big on training either. That did not work so they
were relocated to a better location. Some were removed and we increased the
number of extinguisher in the hallways. I would rather have everyone get
out, close the doors, stay out and let the fire department do their job.
Prevention is the key.
At 09:01 AM 8/2/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>Hello,
>
>Is your summer going as fast as mine is *hehe*
>
>I am putting together a list of what other Colleges and Universities are
>doing, if anyting, on fire safety education for their students.
>
>Here at Miami University, we have a smoke simulation drill planned for all
>of the first year students. With the use of 'safe smoke' we smoke up parts
>of the residence hall. The students are required to get from point A to
>point B.
>The same smoke is as realistic as we can get to simulating a real fire. The
>point we try stress is knowing the number of doors between your room and
>the exitway and how easy you can become disoriented if you are caught in a
>smokey situation. We tried this 6 times last year and the success was
>overwelling, the students who went through this last year want to do it
>again this year. With 36 residence halls, it is hard to hit each building.
>We are making this mandatory for first year students, so as time goes on,
>each student will have been this program once.
>
>If any one has any other ideas they wish to share, please let me know. I am
>keeping tract of what the good and successful programs are, so we can share
>them from time to time. Please reply to the list as apposed to me direct.
>
>We keep adding new Colleges and Universities to our list all the time. We
>have over 35 people subscribed. I have been asked by some of the schools in
>the surrounding states if they can join this discussion group (i was asked
>by a school in Kentucky and Indiana). I personally do not have a problem
>with this, they have the same problems and issues we have here. I am going
>to invite them to be part of the group. We are still trying to get the word
>out to the smaller schools and universities. A message was sent out to some
>of the schools, but if you have contact with people at different schools in
>your part of the state please let them know. I am happy to say that we have
>points of Ohio representated here.
>
>If anyone has been to any training or knows of any training that may be
>benficial to us, please share what you have been up-to and how the program
>was.
>
>I look forward to a positive response, talk to you soon.
>
>-Randy-
>
>
>___________________________________________________
>Randall L. Hormann
>Fire/Safety Specialist
>Miami University, Ohio
>
>6 Hughes Hall (EHSO)
>Oxford, Ohio 45056
>Office: 513-529-2461, Fax: 513-529-2830
>E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
>
>State: Ohio Fire Safety Inspector - Instructor
>Chair: Fire Safety Professionals @
> Ohio Colleges and Universities
>Member: Ohio Fire Chiefs Assoc., Fire Code Committee.
>Member: Ohio Fire Officials Association.
>Advisor: Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Fraternity.
>Advisor:Alpha Lambda Delta / Phi Eta Sigma - Honor Society.
>
>___________________________________________________
>
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