Stop, Drop, and Roll, fire safety comes to the ‘burg
Posted on August 27, 2007
In elementary school you learn to stop, drop, and roll. In college, it’s still important.
Since January of 2000, 89 college students have died from on- and off-campus fires in the United States, with the number of injuries surpassing that, according to the Center for Campus Fire Safety. As these numbers continue to rise every year, the Harrisonburg Fire and Police Department and the James Madison University Police Department are making efforts to educate students about the risks.
“We know that they are going to go out and have fun, but we want them to know there are safety issues to be aware of,” Wanda Willis, lieutenant of Fire Prevention Education for the Harrisonburg Fire Department said.
Three departments will be combining forces on Thursday, Aug. 30, to hold College Safety 101 at Ashby Crossing on Devon Lane. The following week, on Sept. 6th, they will be at Hunters Ridge for a second session. These lessons will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with activities, information booths, and free pizza for everyone.
“We want to not only teach them about safety, but answer their questions as well,” Willis said.
Several members of the fire department will be available for discussion in the designated area of the parking lot. They will also be setting up a fire safety house each day where students can experience what it’s like to be trapped in a burning building.
“We have the kids going through the fire safety house who come out and say, ‘I would have died if that were a real fire,’” she said.
Attendees will also be able to take part in a “beer-goggle” obstacle course given by the police departments, Crime Prevention Coordinator for the JMU Police Department, Peggy Campbell said. While wearing the goggles, students will feel the impact impaired vision can have on their decision-making skills while riding an adult tricycle through the course.
“It’s a great opportunity to get some educational information to the students,” Campbell said.
Students are interested in the fire safety measures as well.
“Usually it takes something bad happening to someone or someone they know real well for it to sink in,” sophomore Heather Smith said. “Having an event like this might help get the message across sooner.”