Each year, many students throughout the United States reside in residence halls. It may become a new abode for the semester to some, while for others, a convenient hang out spot with friends, but regardless of the situation, the safety of those in the resistance halls should be one of the first things that come to the resident or visitor's mind. Incidents such as fire and burglary occur in college residence halls and many of these incidences are avoidable, given that the safety regulations are properly enforced.Currently, Kean University houses close to 2,000 students and according to Catricia Shaw, Coordinator of Residential Community Standards for the office of residence life, the reported number of incidents in the residence hall rooms has not increased since the addition of the two new of residence halls. The residence life staff, as well as police and numerous other members of the Kean campus community, make it their top priority to ensure the safety of the residents and visitors who reside in the residence halls. With their efforts, along with the residents who help to properly carry out the safety regulations of the residence halls, many incidents have been deterred in the rooms. However, some safety regulations may be overlooked and here are a few tips to ensure safety in the new or existing residence halls for residents, students, and visitors:
On The Clock?
Make Sure The Door Is Locked
Theft is a major reported incident on college campuses; and theft, in many cases, could have been avoided if the front door of the residence hall room or bedroom door had been locked. Locking the front door should be done whether someone is in the room or not. To deter theft and other safety hazards at Kean, residence life equipped each floor of the residence halls with cameras which are fully operational. Locking the front door can also prevent strangers from entering the rooms. "When you are at home, lock your door," Shaw said. "There could be a stranger." And as part of a program about safety to ensure that the front doors of the residence halls are locked, the residence life staff will be checking to see if the front doors of all the rooms in the residence halls are locked during the week of November 16.
The Dish Can Be Delish, Given the Proper Precautions
Located in every residence hall is a microwave and in the upperclassmen residence halls, a community kitchen, which features an oven and a toaster oven, is located on the first floor. Safety first when using the cooking equipment can help to prevent burnt food, and most importantly, residence hall fires. Make sure to clean these items after every use; the residue of the food can burn the next time the appliance is used. Remember to pay attention, be alert when cooking food, and never leave that food unattended. Toaster ovens also get hot enough along the exterior and this heating could ignite notebooks and loose paper in close range of them.
Concrete For Better Containment
The Seton Hall residence hall fire is a well-known incident that occurred in South Orange, NJ on January 19, 2000. After this incident, fire safety measures at colleges and universities were reviewed, and new protocols were issued to ensure the safety of the students and visitors in the residence halls. Residence life at Kean has taken many safety measures to thwart the danger of fire. The residence halls and rooms are equipped with sprinklers and fire alarms which should never be covered or disabled. The residence halls are also made out of concrete, which would contain the fire in the room rather than let it spread to other rooms. In addition, the furniture in the residence halls are fire-rated so that they would be more resistant in the case of a fire. Other tips to thwart the danger of fire for students and visitors is to remember to never place electronics that are turned on near sinks, bathtubs, or other places where there is water, as well as memorizing the number of doors to the nearest exit and leaving the building when the smoke alarm sounds. "Take a proactive approach," Shaw said.
For more information about safety in the residence halls and on campus, check out the 2009-2010 Guide at http://www.kean.edu/publications/TheGuideFall2009.pdf and to learn more about Kean University's residence life staff, mission, and residence halls, visit http://www.kean.edu/reslife/. Stay safe and happy campus living!
