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Fire à Fire Prevention à Campus Fire Safety:


St. Charles is the home of the ever growing Lindenwood University. As the entity responsible for ensuring public fire education, we feel that it is our duty to provide information to families and students concerning fire safety in university dormitories, sororities, fraternity houses, and other off campus housing.

The following tips were obtained from the United States Fire Administration.

Prevention:

  • Clean up immediately after parties and take all trash outside
  • Assign a non-impaired “event monitor”
  • Do not overload electrical outlets
  • Keep space heaters and halogen lamps away from flammables
  • Put out candles and incense when unattended, you really should not use them at all.
  • Extinguish all smoking materials thoroughly
  • Place all smoking materials in appropriate containers, not trash cans, plastic containers or trash bags
  • Don’t smoke while tired or impaired

Protection:

  • Be sure all smoke detectors are in working condition
  • Install new batteries at the beginning of each semester

Plan Escape Routes:

  • Know where all exits are located in the building
  • Practice your escape plan

Take Fire Alarms Seriously:

  • Do not ignore fire alarms
  • Do not wait to see fire or smoke
  • Do not worry about grabbing your stuff

Tampering with smoke alarms, pulling false alarms or misusing fire protection equipment may be a criminal offense. These are dangerous pranks and should be reported immediately.

Make a Plan:

  • Check to make sure your smoke alarms are working—Change the batteries
  • Find all possible exits from your room or residence
  • Make a fire escape route plan that includes two escape routes
  • Practice your fire escape plan
  • Perform a “home inspection” for fire and safety hazards
  • Tell your roommates about your plan
  • Call your local fire department for more information about student housing fire safety (In the City of St. Charles call the Fire Chief’s office at 949-3253)

Getting Out:

 - Feel the Door Handle

  • If the door handle is hot, don’t open it
  • Go to a window and call for help
  • If the handle is not hot, open cautiously
  • Check for smoke or fire before going out

 - Get Out of the Building before Phoning for Help

  • Don’t take time to phone before leaving
  • Get out and find a phone

 - Pull the Alarm on Your Way Out (If there is an emergency)

 - Don’t Look for Other People or Gather up Your Stuff

  • Knock on doors as you leave
  • Yell “FIRE!” as you leave (Only if there is really a fire)
  • Don’t hesitate or stray from your path as you leave

 - Crawl Low to the Floor

  • Thick smoke can make it impossible to see
  • Toxic chemicals from smoke can be deadly in minutes

 - Close the Door Behind You

  • You may help keep the fire from spreading
  • You may protect your possessions from fire and smoke damage

 - If You Can’t Get Out, Get Someone’s Attention

  • Yell and scream
  • Hang a sheet from the window
  • Stay low, there is less smoke and poisonous gasses close to the floor

Lindenwood University has a good record when it comes to fire safety. Help them and us continue to provide a safe place to live and learn.

 

 

 

 
   


  
The mission of the St. Charles Fire Department is:
· Service without boundaries;
 · Compassion and Integrity in all that we do;
 · Courage to move forward.


      Ernie Rhodes,     
   City of St. Charles
Fire Chief