Fire safety in halls

Successive shots of a gas ring, burger cooking, a vape in a hand, a picture of flames, someone exhaling from a vape, lots of plus on an adaptor, hair straighteners smoking, a hand pressing a fire alarm and flames.

Are you paying attention?

Male student talking to camera

This video might save your life.

Let's be real. Fire safety probably isn’t your first priority at university.

Female student talking to camera along side male student

That said, it is pretty important so stay with us for the next few minutes and we'll show you how to keep your accommodation safe and what to do in the event of a fire.

Words on screen Stay safe at Uni with music

Girl walking into a kitchen, taking something from fridge, a hand putting a cooker on and frying a burger.

Once you've started cooking, don't get distracted, especially if you're grilling or frying something.

Girl leaves frying pan to look at her phone and leaves room but comes back

Stay with your cooking to make sure everything stays under control.

Hand turning control knob down, pulling grill trays out and running a sloth under the tap and wiping grill trays

And while we're in the kitchen, try to keep your grill trays clean as grease and fat is highly flammable. Just give them a quick wipe down after you're done cooking and you're good to go.

Hair straighteners on the bed. Plug socket and someone switching it off

Remember to turn off and unplug any appliances that could get hot after using them and also make sure to use the right charger for your device. If possible, the one that came with it.

A hand searching UK power supply on a phone, a plug in an adaptor smoking

And if you're an international student, please check that your chargers work with the power supply here in the UK. Using the wrong charger can overload the supply and cause it to overheat.

An extension with several plugs plugged into it and someone unplugging them

Also avoid overloading plug sockets and extension leads.  This could create a power surge and start a fire.

Only plug in the number of plugs it was designed for.

Someone putting fairy lights up on a shelf

Fairy lights are a great way to decorate your room, but make sure they're LED and battery operated. Unlike mains powered ones, these don't heat up no matter how long they're on for.

Someone vaping

Smoking indoors is banned. And yes, that includes vapes too.

Even vapour can set off the fire alarm and no one wants a 3am wake up call.

Smoking shelter outside

Head outside to the designated smoking area if your campus has one. If not, head off campus.

A fire door, then someone wedging a door open with their foot

 This bit's crucial.

Fire doors, sometimes marked with this symbol are your best defence against fire spreading but they're useless if left open, so please keep them closed.

Corridor in student flat full of obstacles (ironing board, rubbish bag , shoes)

Once you move in, learn your fire escape route and make sure you keep this clear from any obstructions like shoes or bikes.

You don't want these things slowing down your escape if there's a fire.

Smoke detector, fire alarm and fire extinguisher

Don't mess with the smoke detectors, fire alarms and fire fighting equipment.

Keeping these things in good condition could save your life.

Someone pressing the fire Alarm, people leaving a smoky flat, running down stairs and exiting a building

If you hear this sound, you need to leave the building immediately.

Don't wait to find out if it's real or assume it's just a test.

Fire assembly point sign

Walk, don't run and head to your fire assembly point.

Check with your accommodation so you know where to go.

Screen with writing on:

HOW TO REPORT A FIRE

MOST FIRES WILL AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATE FIRE DETECTORS AND SET THE ALARM OFF, BUT IF YOU NOTICE A FIRE AND THE DETECTOR HASN’T PICKED IT UP YET, OPERATE THE NEAREST FIRE ALARM CALL POINT.

FIRE ALARM CALL POINTS ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING, ARE EASY TO USE AND HAVE INSTRUCTIONS ON THEM

ONCE ACTIVATED, THEY WILL SET THE FIRE ALARM OFF AND YOU SHOULD FOLLOW THE FIRE ALARM PROCEDURE AND EVACUATE THE BUILDING

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DO NOT BRING THE FOLLOWING TO UNI

• CANDLES/INCENSE BURNERS
• DEPP FAT FRYERS
• CHIP PANS
• OIL BURNERS
• E-BIKES AND SCOOTERS
• ELECTRIC INCENSE DIFFUSERS
• PLUG-IN AIR FERSHENERS AND BONGS

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IN YOUR ROOM THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE BANNED

• ELECTRIC HEATERS
• MICROWAVE OVENS
• TOASTERS
• KETTLES
• RICE COOKERS

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PERSONAL EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN (PEEP)

A PEEP IS A PLAN FOR INDIVIDULS WHO MAY HAVE DIFFICULTIES LEAVING A BUILDING DURING ANJ EMEREGENCY OR FIRE.

WHEN YOU APPLY FOR HALLS, WE ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU NEED A PEEP AND IF YOU NEED ONE, WE WILL DEVELOP ONE FOR YOU.

I F ANYTHING CHANGES AFTER YOU APPLY FOR HALLS WHICH WILL AFFECT YOUR ABILTY TO EVACUATE A BUILDING, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH US IMMEDIATELY TO DISCUSS THIS.

Male and female student talking to camera

We know this might not be the most exciting topic, but it is important. Fires can start and spread fast.

A little effort can save you and everyone else a lot of trouble.

Stick to the advice we've shared here and you can keep uni life safe and stress free.