RockChalkLiving.com
PRESENTS
PAGE 6
MONDAY,OCTOBER 7,2013
SAFETY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WHAT TO DO IF
THERE IS A FIRE
It was just after 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2012, when Kerry Redmond, a senior from Lenexa, was awakened by his roommate shouting at him to get out and pulling a bunny cage out of the third story window. Redmond's roommates and their friends began crawling over him to get to the fire escape, just outside his window. Meanwhile, an orange glow grew larger on the first floor porch.
Still confused, Redmond opened the door to the hallway, where smoke immediately hit him in the face. It was then that he realized that his house was on fire.
mketcham@kansan.com
There have been 60 house fires in Lawrence so far this year. To reduce possible hazards, an ordinance to ban couches on porches was passed by the Lawrence City Commission on Sept. 3.
Redmond believes this ordinance is important, as the fire in his house began on the porch couch.
MEGHAN KETCHAM
mketcham@kansan.com
"Don't give yourself any ability to start a house fire," he said. "Keep couches off of the porch. They go up. I love a couch porch, but a hammock is just as cool but less flammable."
It's important to consider prevention measures when choosing an apartment or before renting a house, according to James King, Lawrence Fire Marshall and Division Chief of Prevention.
"Look for places that have sprinkler and alarm systems," King said. "The alarm systems
will provide early notification, and sprinklers are excellent at putting out fires early. Meet with the landlord or building manager to speak about fire safety"
After the fire, residents are not advised to return to the area, even to collect valuables. Although Redmond lost in the fire, he said that it is more important for others to be safe.
"Stay optimistic," Redmond said. "If it happens to you, just make sure your friends are safe. It's priority."
In addition to looking at the house itself for fire dangers, students should be cautious of the objects they place inside and around the house. King said that candles should be placed away from curtains and wall hangings. Students are also advised to discard cigarettes and other smoking materials in a non-flammable container filled with water or sand.
"If you have a phone available, communicate through the 911 dispatcher so they can relay it to the fire crews working." King said. "If it is daylight, get to a window. Wave something bright to attract attention. If it's at night, use a light. Find a means to communicate with people. Don't jump. Once you get above the third floor, or more than 20 to 30 feet, you risk severe injury by jumping."
Fires can still occur, despite taking precautions to prevent them, and warning signs are not always apparent. Knowing exits beforehand and making sure that fire alarms work are helpful.
THERE IS A ROBBERY
TOM DEHART
tdehart@kansan.com
Having your own apartment can be the best experience of your life. It can also be a lot of work to keep clean and make sure the rent is always in on time. One thing that most people don't plan for when signing a lease for an apartment or house while attending college is a burglary.
Mitch Seeman, a senior from Overland Park, said that he had some of his belongings stolen, including his laptop and his Xbox 360, when he and his roommates were away for spring break last year.
"My roommate came back and said a window was broken, the back door was open and the TV was on," Seeman said. "He filed a police report before he knew that all of my stuff was gone, so by the time I got back and noticed my things were missing it was too late."
Their vacant home probably could have probably been protected with a security system, but one of the difficulties of renting a home in Lawrence is that most of the apartments and homes don't come equipped with security systems. Most students don't think about having one installed or they don't invest in one because installation can be expensive.
Seeman now says he tries to lock his doors when he leaves and at night.
"One of the the things that poses a threat most often is that in the common areas of a house or an apartment is that people don't
always lock the doors," Sgt. Trent McKinley, the Lawrence Police Department Public Affairs Officer, said. "Lots of times students think they should leave a key hidden outside, or a window open so that they can get back in in case they get locked out, and that causes a lot of problems."
McKinley said that taking precautions such as closing the blinds to make sure people can't see your belongings in your home and giving your space a "lived-in" look are good ways to prevent burglary. He also said that taking your most valuable belongings home with you over long breaks is the best way to avoid a burglary over holiday seasons.
To protect his valuable electronics, Seeman registered his new computer on preyproject.com, a website that allows him to track his laptop as well as any other technology equipped with the software from any location.
Other ways to protect a college living space from theft is to purchase security items, such as a safe with a lock pad to place small belongings in, or to place a small and narrow rod in between sliding windows to prevent them opening from the outside. A door security bar which attaches to the floor in an entryway can provide enough leverage to prevent a door from being opened from the outside.
Renters insurance is another option students can consider.
"Sometimes students just assume that they are under their parents' insurance but that isn't always the case," McKinley said. "It's pretty cheap. It costs less than it would cost to
THERE IS A TORNADO
When buying an apartment, one of the last things on a student's mind is tornado safety. However, students should take safety precautions in case of inclement weather. Here are some apartment safety tips to abide by during a tornado:
PREPARATIONS BEFORE
- Have a weather radio with battery backup.
- Sign up for the Douglas County IRIS call notification system.
- Keep a flashlight and first aid kit by your bed in the case of a power outage.
- Discuss tornado safety with roommates, and designate a place to go during inclement weather. Many apartments do not have basements, so come up with a plan
to get to the safest place on a lower level.
IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER
- Stay away from windows, electrical equipment and water pipes.
- Listen for tornado sirens, and don't ignore warnings. If you hear a siren, go to the basement or lowest level of the building.
- If the lowest level is not a basement, go to a windowless bathroom or the most interior room in the apartment.
- If inclement weather is approaching, grab enough food and water to last at least three days and put it in a backpack ready to go.
- Wait until a meteorologist signals the end
AFTER INCLEMENT WEATHER
of the tornado warning to exit to a safe area
- If someone is injured, call 911.
TORNADO LINGO
- Tornado watch means conditions in the area are right for a tornado.
- Tornado warning means a tornado has touched down in the area or is likely to within a short amount of time. Danger is imminent.
A Preparedness Guide by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the national Weather Service
Sources:
Douglas County Emergency Management Press Release