Once again, a new wave of first-year and transfer students has arrived on campus. Additionally, it has been some time since the rest of the student population has lived on Castle Point. Because of this, Daniel Cunning of the Department of Environmental Health and Safety would like to go through some fire and safety strategies to ensure all students have a safe year here at Stevens.
Cunning, who has worked at Stevens for the past year, told the Stute that he works tirelessly to keep campus, students, faculty, and staff safe from harm due to fire, smoke, heat, chemicals, or any other danger. In his tenure, he has successfully brought the average number of alarms per year from over 200 hundred to less than 100 for the past three years. Most importantly, Cunning emphasized, the number of student-caused alarms has significantly decreased. However, he reiterated that it is still vital to remember safe practices and strategies to prevent and react to dangerous situations. Cunning says that most of the time, when an alarm is triggered due to student activity, it is a result of accidental and understandable safety violations. Because of this, Cunning has helped The Stute compile a list of things to know to stay safe.
The first thing to remember is how fast fire can spread. In today’s world, most materials are synthetic and burn extremely fast, so a candle can set an entire room on fire in only 90 seconds. Because of this, it is crucial to know how to get out of a room, the escape routes out of a building, the proper ways to check a door, where to go, and what paths to take. All of this information, Cunning explained, can be found across campus.
Another aspect of fire safety here on campus is preventing fires. Fire prevention is increasingly important with the South and Harries Towers. Hot plates in all units, microwaves, and conventional ovens allow a fire to break out quickly. It is vital to not tamper with fire alarms and to evacuate if an alarm goes off. Another aspect of preventing fires is ensuring that no dangerous materials or devices are in dorms or classrooms. For example, e-bikes or e-scooters are not allowed. They can catch fire very quickly. In New York City, there have been over 200 fires in the past year due to e-bikes and scooters, with dozens of fatalities.
The best way to prevent fires is education. Learning how to prevent and escape fires is vital in increasing survivability and decreasing the number of fire alarms on campus. Whether from knowing what devices are not allowed in dorms, what not to put in microwaves, how to evacuate buildings, and when it is safe to return. All information on fire safety is available on the Stevens Fire Safety website.
