Since childhood, fire safety is taught to us. We’re told not use matches or what to perform if a fire were to occur. As a result, we have become so used to the idea that a small fire could start up and cause serious damage. As college students, we are often unaware of how easily a fire can spread. This includes tapestries and curtains. Although the odds are low that a piece of tapestry could catch fire, it is possible. If there was a fire, this tapestry would rise in seconds and cause the flames to spread rapidly. Most students don’t think about examples like this, so it’s important to educate them on fire safety.
After reading these articles and watching those videos, I see the importance of fire protection. When I first read the article, I was not aware of how dangerous curtains can be. The article that described how a flame caught the shades in fire made me realize they were easily ignitable and would quickly rise if there was a blaze. Even though the fire may not have started in your dorm, the flames can still spread. If the fire spreads quickly, it could destroy your entire dorm in seconds. The fact is, most people do not realize that just because a certain object cannot start a full-blown fire does not mean it’s safe.
I found the videos with a mock fire in a dorm to be very helpful for demonstrating fire safety. Many students would understand how dangerous fires are if the spread of fire was visualized. In one video the fire took some time to spread but once it reached a tapestry there was a rapid rise in the building. I think that showing videos or doing demonstrations like that before allowing students to move into dorms would be a great way to educate students about fire safety. The handbook should be reviewed by students, and a quiz or small assignment could be given before they move in. It would be helpful to have a small quiz for students that explains what’s allowed and what’s not. This should also emphasize that wall decorations and tapestries aren’t allowed, as most people, including myself, don’t know. It’s important to explain the reasons why tapestries and other wall adornments are not allowed. Most people, myself included, don’t know this.
If I want to be sure I know what fire hazards are, I’ll read more about the handbook. If I was uncertain about something that I owned and whether it would be against the rule, I would check with an RA to see if I was breaking the rule or putting the safety of others in the dorms. Candles or hotplates were obvious objects that I did not want to have in my dorm. As I’m now aware of the fire risk certain objects present, I will take extra care to ensure that my dorm is safe for me and everyone else.
