From 1994 to 1998, there were an average of 1,570 fires per year in dormitories, sorority houses and fraternity houses. There were also an average of 75 injuries and deaths each year. Avoid becoming a statistic by following this advice from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
- You may be tempted to buy an inexpensive tall halogen lamp. But did you know that the bulbs can get hot enough to ignite curtains, blankets or towels that are too close? If the lamp has a 500-watt bulb, replace it with a 300-watt bulb. Some colleges don't allow halogen lamps, no matter what the bulb wattage.
- The bulb on a fluorescent floor lamp reaches 200 degrees Fahrenheit. A 300-watt bulb on a halogen lamp can reach 970 degrees. Fluorescent is not only safer; it will keep your dorm room cooler.
- Don't run extension cords under carpet or rest furniture on them. This can cause cords to overheat and ignite.
- Be cautious when using toaster ovens. They get hot enough on the outside to ignite notebooks and loose paper near them.
- If your dorm room has old-fashioned two-prong outlets, don’t sever the third prong (the grounding prong) in order to plug in an item. Prevent shocks and electrocutions, and protect your electronic equipment, by using adaptors instead.
- Note the location of the nearest fire extinguisher and learn how to use it.
- Do not disable smoke detectors, even “sensitive” ones that go off frequently.
- Replace smoke detector batteries every six months. An easy way to remember is to do it when you set your clock back in the fall and forward in the spring.
This information was originally published by the Federal Citizen Information Center of the U.S. General Services Administration. For more information, visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov.
