This week is Student Fire Safety Week (23 - 27 September).
This week (23 - 27 September) is the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Student Fire Safety Week, which aims to provide students with information on how to prevent fires in their accommodation, halls of residence and shared homes.
For many students going to university often means moving away from home for the very first time, and while this makes it a very exciting time, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) is encouraging students in Warwickshire to think about their accommodation, how to live in it safely and reduce any fire risks.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue is sharing their top safety tips to help students with their move or return to university:
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Ensure that smoke alarms are fitted in your accommodation and test them regularly to make sure they’re working. If they sound, react quickly and evacuate the premises safely.
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If you find you have fewer electrical sockets, avoid overloading them, as electrical sockets and adapters can pose a risk of fire when overloaded. Make sure to switch items off when you’re not using them, especially items such as straighteners and hairdryers.
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Don’t leave phones or tablets charging on soft furnishings such as beds, sofas and chairs, as they can overheat and cause a fire. Always charge them on hard surfaces and don’t leave them charging unattended
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Take care if charging electrical goods such as scooters, bikes and vapes. Always use the correct charger for the device and avoid using counterfeit cables, as these can overheat and spark a fire. Never leave electrical items charging unattended, take them off charge if you’re going out or going to bed
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Never leave cooking unattended, always give it your full attention and take extra care when frying with oil. If a pan does catch fire, never use water to extinguish it; turn off the heat if it is safe to do so. Never attempt to cook if under the influence of alcohol
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Position kitchen electrical items, such as toasters, away from hazards like curtains, tea towels and paper. Ensure that electrical items are also kept clean and placed well away from water
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If you’re a smoker, always smoke outside and make sure cigarettes are fully extinguished and disposed of properly
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Ensure that all internal doors are kept closed, by doing this, if a fire were to happen, it would reduce the spread of smoke and the fire itself
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Consider where your evacuation routes are, and how you would exit the property in the event of a fire
Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Fire, Councillor Andy Crump, said: “It’s the time of year where students are beginning a new chapter in their lives by moving away from home to go to university and getting used to looking after themselves in new surroundings.
“When living away from home it’s especially important to recognise new fire hazards and take precautions to keep yourself safe and reduce the risk.
“There are many ways you can reduce the risk of fire, for example not overloading electrical sockets and not charging devices on soft furnishings, such as beds and sofas. Don’t be tempted to cook while under the influence of alcohol and make sure your accommodation has working smoke alarms fitted – test them regularly.”
WFRS has created a new, engaging video to help protect students living independently, available to watch here.
The video is in the style of the current trend across social media ‘Gen-Z writes our marketing script’ video and it is designed to resonate with students to address key fire safety tips in a fun and entertaining format.
Follow along on our social media channels:
Facebook - @warwickshirefireandrescueservice
X - @WarksFireRescue
Instagram - @warksfirerescue
For more student fire safety tips, visit our website: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/firesafety.