Home > News and Events > Latest News > Encouraging Students to Stay Safe for National Student Fire Safety Week

Encouraging Students to Stay Safe for National Student Fire Safety Week

Published 23rd Sep 2024

This National Student Fire Safety Week we’re reminding students to stay safe and be fire and water aware.

This time of year will see some students living independently for the first time, whether in private rented properties or university provided accommodation.

We’ve put together some top tips below, so if you know someone who has just started university or is about to do so, please share them with them:

 

1. Ensure you have working smoke alarms in your accommodation.
2. Do not cover any smoke alarms
3. React quickly and evacuate safely when the fire alarm sounds.
4. Many fires start in the kitchen, where it’s easy to get distracted. Make sure you don’t leave cooking on the hob unattended and keep tea towels and oven gloves away from hob tops.
5. Avoid overloading sockets.
6. Don’t leave phones or tablets charging on soft furnishings such as beds, sofas and chairs.
7. Ensure that all internal doors are kept closed.
8. Know your escape routes for a quick but safe exit.
9. Consider using fragrance sprays or reed diffusers instead of candles for a pleasant atmosphere.
10. If you smoke, ensure cigarettes are extinguished properly. Or if you use e-cigarettes, be sure to only use the supplied charger.
11. Know your rights and who to speak to if you spot a potential fire risk.
12. In the event of a fire: Get out, Stay out, and Call 999.

We’d also like to remind you to be sensible near open water.  Last week was the Royal Life Saving Society’s National Don’t Drink and Drown Campaign. This national campaign, specifically targets those aged 18-25, as 46% of accidental drownings in this age group involve alcohol and/or drugs*.

Remember alcohol and drugs can seriously impact your ability to swim.

  • If you’ve been drinking or taken drugs avoid taking walking routes home that involve passing open water
  • Look out for your friends and help everyone to get home safely
  • Don’t encourage people to jump into open water after they’ve been drinking

* Source: WAID (2018-2023)