{"id":3329,"date":"2013-09-10T11:14:30","date_gmt":"2013-09-10T15:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/?page_id=3329"},"modified":"2024-05-10T10:35:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T14:35:30","slug":"fire-and-safety-at-a-glance","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/ohr\/neighborhoods\/fire-and-safety-at-a-glance\/","title":{"rendered":"Fire Safety at A Glance"},"content":{"rendered":"
Fire Safety at A Glance<\/strong> is an excerpt Boston University Research Compliance Environmental Health and Safety<\/a>;\u00a0 visit the website for additional information.<\/div>\n
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No open flames \u2014 that means no candles<\/em><\/h2>\n

Believe it: Lighting a candle is one of the most dangerous things you can do. According to the National Fire Protection Association,<\/a> candles started more than 17,000 fires in 2004 alone. So buy a flashlight and use that in a power outage. (If power outages are a consistent problem, contact your utility provider or, as a last resort, the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation<\/a>.) If you want to make your place smell nice, buy an air freshener.<\/p>\n

Candles, incense, and open flames are prohibited in Boston University residences<\/a>, as is smoking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Avoid electrical hazards such as overloaded outlets<\/h2>\n

Be smart. No matter where you live, you should never overload an outlet with multiple extension cords, use cheap or frayed cords, or run cords under rugs. Fire officials recommend power-surge protectors that are approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL)<\/a>. Keep fabrics away from lamps, of course. And never walk away from a plugged-in iron or go to bed with a space heater on. Note that the University forbids certain appliances,<\/a> such as halogen lamps and electric blankets, from its residences.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Have a working smoke alarm<\/h2>\n

All BU residences have smoke detectors that are diligently maintained. If you live in an off-campus apartment in Boston or Brookline, your landlord is required to provide a smoke detector. (You may need to change the alarm\u2019s batteries yourself.) \u201cSmoke alarm\u201d should be on your checklist when looking at apartments. If your current place has no alarm, bring it up with your landlord. If the landlord is unwilling to fulfill this requirement, contact Boston Office of Housing Stability<\/a>\u00a0or Brookline\u2019s Health Department<\/a>, as appropriate \u2014 but don\u2019t hesitate to go out and buy an alarm in the meantime. Also note, fire officials recommend that smoke alarms be of the photoelectric variety, rather than the less efficient ionization type.<\/p>\n

You may be tempted \u2014 especially if you\u2019re a bad cook \u2014 to consider the smoke alarm a nuisance, and to take its batteries out. Don\u2019t do that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When an alarm sounds, take it seriously<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t wait around wondering whether there is a real fire. Don\u2019t hit \u201csave\u201d and print your term paper or grab treasured mementos and family heirlooms. Leave the building. Failure to evacuate when a fire alarm sounds is a serious violation of BU\u2019s residential policy<\/a> if you live on campus \u2014 and simply unwise no matter where<\/em> you live.<\/p>\n

If there is indeed a fire, you may need to crawl out in order to avoid asphyxiation from smoke \u2014 the greatest danger in a fire. Watch this video<\/a> of a safe evacuation to see how it\u2019s done.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Use caution when cooking<\/h2>\n

Never leave boiling pots or sizzling pans unattended. If you do start a fire in the kitchen, use a Class B or Class C fire extinguisher if you are comfortable doing so. If you don\u2019t have a fire extinguisher (which you should), you can smother a fire with baking soda. (Never throw water on a grease fire; that will cause it so spread.) Always remember that your main concern during a fire should be to evacuate, not extinguish. Fire can spread rapidly and the smoke can knock you out. You can do a lot more outside, calling 911, than you can inside, unconscious.<\/p>\n

Appliances such as hot pots, hot plates, coffee pots, and most microwave ovens are prohibited<\/a> in BU\u2019s dormitory-style residences.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Keep a fire extinguisher handy<\/h2>\n

Go to your nearest hardware store and pick up a Class B or Class C fire extinguisher. Make sure you know how to use it<\/strong>, instead of trying to read the directions during a fire. And remember that your primary responsibility during a fire is to evacuate. When in doubt, flee.<\/strong><\/p>\n

All University residences have fire extinguishers, which are, of course, only to be used in the event of a fire. Setting off a fire extinguisher for the heck of it is the quickest, not to mention most clich\u00e9d, way to get yourself kicked out of housing, and possibly out of the University itself. The same goes for tampering with fire safety equipment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Grill safely \u2014 if at all (you might be breaking the law)<\/h2>\n

Boston and Brookline prohibit the use of charcoal grills on wooden porches. In addition to the fire hazard, these grills produce a good deal of carbon monoxide. Oops, you already used a charcoal grill? At least douse the flames with water when you\u2019re finished. Otherwise those embers will stay lit long after everyone has gone to bed.<\/p>\n

Massachusetts law prohibits gas grills from being stored or used inside or above the first floor of any residence \u2014 that includes balconies, decks, porches, rooftops, and, of course, fire escapes. A grill should be set up on level ground away from walls, trees, porch railings, or other combustible materials. Keep a fire extinguisher within reach. Please read the City of Boston\u2019s barbecue safety tips<\/a> before operating a gas grill.<\/p>\n

No barbecuing is allowed on campus except at officially sanctioned events supervised by Campus Dining Services.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Party smarter<\/h2>\n

Of all the risks you\u2019re taking when you and your roommates decide to throw a party \u2014 the chances of disciplinary or legal consequences, etc. \u2014 the most serious is that of physical harm befalling you and your guests thanks to a drunken mishap. Everyone wants to have a good time, but as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) puts it, you\u2019d really better \u201cassign a non-impaired event monitor.\u201d In other words, somebody\u2019s gotta be the Sober Guy. (or Sober Girl.) Never mind that it\u2019s simply a good idea to have an alert roommate keep tabs on all goings-on, preventing thefts and minor damage. Most crucially, someone should watch out for unattended cigarettes, fallen lamps and other potential hazards. Draw straws, make deals \u2014 but it needs to happen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Know your escape routes, and keep them clear<\/h2>\n

If you live off-campus, make sure your apartment has at least two ways out. One of these is likely to be a fire escape. Don\u2019t think of yours as a storage space. It needs to be free of boxes, bikes, or anything that would block or slow your escape in the event of a fire.<\/p>\n

You should also draw up a floor plan and map all the exit routes. Designate a spot outdoors where you would meet to make sure all roommates got out. Then practice escaping. To mimic conditions during a real fire, you should even practice crawling your way out, with your eyes closed. Maybe you\u2019ll feel silly \u2014 so what? It\u2019s better to memorize this now than figure it out on the spot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Know what to ask before signing a lease<\/h2>\n

The FEMA Campus Fire Safet<\/a>y\u00a0 lists the questions you should ask a prospective landlord about fire safety. Print it out, put it on a clipboard so they\u2019ll know you mean business, and bring it with you when checking out apartments. And get satisfactory answers before you sign anything.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n