College Dorm Safety Hazards and How to Avoid Them

In 2017, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that more than 20 million students attended colleges and universities throughout the U.S. An increase of 5.1 million students since the fall of 2000, projections point to a further increase in the number of college students for Fall 2018.

As the billowing number of 2019 college students move into dorms and off-campus housing, most will bring a trove of accessories and décor to make their rooms their own. While creating cozy study and living spaces and optimizing space are typically the sole endeavors, too often overlooked are safety considerations. In addition to personal and property safety considerations, of paramount concern, are fire and other safety hazards.

Fire, will always be a potential hazard whether a student resides in a dorm or off-campus housing; however, each dwelling may have very differing regulations. More stringent requirements often exist in dormitories. While rules depend on the specific college, typical off limit items often include toasters, hot plates, burners, and other cooking equipment; candles; portable space heaters; air conditioning units; and large wall coverings.

With a projected 3,800 college housing fires each year, students need to take precautions and abide by all university regulations. Avoid certain flammable materials in the dorm room and refrain from powering on electronic devices for large blocks of time as overheating can occur. These tactics will make the dwelling safer according to the US Fire Administration.

In addition to fire hazards, students should be aware of safety issues when hanging heavy objects like mirrors and shelves, and even taller dressers and bookcases, that when not anchored into a stud, can easily topple over. By using an affordable stud finder that finds wood or metal studs or joists, students can safely and quickly affix their heavy objects into the wall or ceiling.

Necessary in apartment and off-campus housing, a water detector is also an inexpensive safety device that may minimize property and water damage for students and parents. Simply placing a water detector anywhere potential leaks may occur will make residents aware the moment it comes into contact with water. More advanced technological devices also have the ability to immediately send email alerts when water is detected. Common areas to place water detectors are underneath sinks, near toilets, next to washing machines or underneath the refrigerator.

For additional safety tips, visit us on Facebook or engage with us on Twitter. If you need assistance during your college move in project or have questions related to which stud finder model is right for you, please let us know. Call our Zircon Tool Pro experts at 1-800-245-9265, Mon – Fri, 8AM – 5 PM PST.

References:

https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372

Five Common College Dorm Safety Hazards

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v12i9.pdf

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