Going Away to School?

Study These Dormitory Safety Tips

BERLIN — According to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments in the United States respond to an average of more than 6,000 structure fires every year on educational properties. Seventy-five percent of the structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, and sororities involve cooking equipment and are more common during the evening hours between 5. and 11, and on weekends.

“The dormitories are literally ‘homes away from home’ with refrigerators, microwaves, TVs, computers, audio equipment, and other appliances along with the bed and desk,” said Sean Martin, manager, safety, Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P). “The problem is that in many cases these buildings may have older wiring which wasn’t designed to handle what students have in their rooms today. Students need to comply with their school rules.”

With students now returning to school and college campuses, CL&P offers these tips to help keep them safe:

*Use only one appliance per electrical outlet. If an appliance cord or the outlet feels hot, the appliance should be disconnected immediately. Students should report any outlets that are damaged or that no longer grip plugs properly to their campus housing staff immediately.

 *Keep things away from appliances that get hot. A toaster oven can get hot enough to burn skin and can ignite notebooks and loose papers. Look for appliances with automatic shutoff features so they are not accidentally left on all day. Turn off lights, the computer, and the audio equipment when leaving a room.

*Replace that halogen lamp with a floor lamp that uses compact fluorescent bulbs. They run much cooler and use only a quarter of the energy. Never drape towels, clothing, or any item other than an approved lamp shade over light bulbs — otherwise, they could ignite.

*If an electric blanket is used, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure to turn it off and unplug it when not in use. Never tuck in an electrical blanket.

*Do not use extension cords for long-term situations or overload extension cords, power strips, or outlets. Doing so may cause them to overheat and deteriorate quickly, which could result in a potential shock and/or fire hazard.

*Keep all electrical cords away from water in a sink or tub. Even an appliance that is not turned on but plugged in can be hazardous, and if it falls into a tub or sink, may cause electrocution.

*Never bend, file, or cut a grounding pin from a three-pronged plug. This disarms the protection meant to keep individuals safe and presents a tremendous shock hazard. Inspect all appliances and electronics for frayed cords, broken plugs or other damage. If damaged, stop using it immediately and repair or replace it.

*Take all on-campus fire alarms and drills seriously. Memorize the number of doors to the two nearest exits in the dormitory. Bring along a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector if these devices are not available.

To learn more about electrical safety, visit Cl&P’s website at www.cl-p.com, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov, Electrical Safety Foundation International at www.esfi.org or the National Fire Protection Association at www.nfpa.org.