Fire Safety Do’s and Don’ts

Do

• Know your building’s evacuation plan.
• Evacuate calmly and quickly whenever a fire alarm sounds.
• Keep important items such as medications and medical equipment handy for quick access in the event of a building evacuation.
• Know two ways out of any building.
• Before opening a door, feel it with the back of your hand. If the door is hot, do not open it.
• If you encounter smoke during your evacuation, stay low to the floor.
• Know the outside rally point for your building.
• In case of a smoke or fire emergency, activate the nearest fire alarm pull station, alert those around you, and from a safe location call the fire department by dialing 911, then call Public Safety at the Charles River Campus by dialing 617-353-2121 and the Control Center at the Medical Campus by dialing 617-414-6666.
• Make sure that hallways and stairway doors close tightly.
• Know the locations of fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull stations, and exits.
• Learn to use a fire extinguisher.

Do NOT

• Use candles, incense, barbecue grills or other open flames unattended.  (Note that these items are prohibited in University housing)
• Use halogen lamps near curtains or other combustibles. (Halogen lamps are prohibited in University housing).
• Hang tapestries from walls or ceilings.
• Leave cooking appliances unattended.
• Smoke in building. (Smoking is prohibited in University housing).
• Tamper with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms, fire alarms or sprinkler systems.
• Ignore any building alarm.
• Hang anything from sprinkler heads or pipes.
• Foreign objects may impede the system’s function.
• Prop fire or smoke doors open.
• Use elevators during an evacuation.