Sparky the Fire Dog and the smell of pizza greeted students Wednesday night in the Spruce Hall lobby. Various tables with flyers of fire safety tips, a giant Jenga set with safety questions written on its pieces and a fire extinguisher demonstration area were set up.
The event was put on by IU Emergency Management and Continuity. The Bloomington Fire Department, Residential Programs and Services and the Office of Insurance, Loss Control and Claims were all sponsors.
Students who attended received a glossy card and were asked to participate in various educational activities like the Jenga trivia and a safety quiz on iPads. After each activity, students got a mark on their card. Three marks equaled a free piece of pizza.
IU Emergency Management Coordinator Cherie Anderson said many students have not had much fire prevention and safety training since middle school, so the event offered good reminders.
“We really want to push fire safety and educate the students on simple things,” she said.
Tom Figolah, Bloomington Fire Department fire prevention officer, said his department recently teamed up with IU to educate students through events like this one. The department wants students to learn fire safety while they are at IU to help minimize both on and off-campus fires.
One question on the fire safety quiz asked if it is best to close your door or leave it open when evacuating for a fire.
The answer: close it.
All residence halls have fireproof doors that can withstand outside fires for hours. This means by closing it you can save items in your room, EMC Emergency Management coordinator Alison Sinadinos said.
Freshman Michael Kushner aimed a fire extinguisher, which shot a laser rather than white foam, toward the fake fire on a screen. He quickly extinguished the fake flames.
Many students have never had to use a fire extinguisher before and might not know how, which is why the event had the simulator, Figolah said.
The best way to remember how to use a fire extinguisher, Figolah said, is the acronym PASS: pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the trigger and sweep side to side.
Kushner said he keeps a fire extinguisher in his car but has never had to use it. He said he decided to participate in the event when he was walking by and saw free pizza.
This is the second time EMC has planned this event, Anderson said. The first one was last month at Teter Quad, and she said about 125 people attended. She said EMC plans to have an event like this every month next school year.
Anderson said many of the fire accidents that happen with students involve cooking. A big sign reminded students to put water in Easy Mac before microwaving it. A question on the Jenga blocks asked if you leave the door of an oven open or close it during an oven fire.
Again, the answer was to keep the oven door closed. EMC assistant director Kate Dorrity said opening it adds oxygen to the fire.
Dorrity said along with these events, EMC does a monthly Lunch and Learn program focusing on various safety topics.
“We do this to really ensure our community has the skills to make good decisions during emergency situations,” Dorrity said.
