Fire Safety Equipment

As a student, staff, or faculty member, you may have all come to dread the sound of fire alarms ringing in the dorms each semester. You may have also gotten used to walking by fire extinguishers in the classroom buildings. These and many other items are actually very important tools for preventing fires. When the time comes to use this fire safety equipment, will you be prepared? Whether the answer is yes or no, review the following information and learn how to use them!

Many of the items listed below can be used in your dorm, at home, or at work to prevent injuries and fires. Some of these items are also equipment that can be used to notify you or others of fires in the area.

Fire extinguishers - remember the PASS method. Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep from side to side.
Manual pull stations - these activate the alarm in your building and notify the building occupants and the fire department of a fire. They are located near the entrance to stairwells and the outside exits of buildings on campus.
Fire sprinkler - these are meant to suppress the fire to allow time for building occupants to exit safely. They will also start the alarms to alert the building occupants.
Exit signs - these are lit up brightly to be seen in case of a power outage due to fire, or due to smoke in the area.
Fire alarms and strobe lights - these audio and visual aids help to catch your attention and alert you to a fire. In larger buildings they can provide instructions, so listen carefully.
Emergency lights – these are used in the event of a power outage, which could be caused by fire. They will light the corridors to allow you to find an exit.

Remember to never hang anything on this equipment, purposefully damage, or cause false alarms because it may harm yourself or others.

For any questions or concerns in regards to equipment in dormitories, please contact Housing and Residential Life at 744-5592 or check their website at residentiallife.okstate.edu/about-us/handbook.

For any other training or general questions please contact EHS at 744-7241 or fls@okstate.edu.