Fire Prevention & Safety Game
Start
Safety in the occurrence of a disaster, and also in the prevention of tragedy, is a topic which is essential to be taught.
Next
According to Statistics Canada (2022), there were approximately 220 fire-related deaths in Canada each year between 2011-2020; and 81% of these fire-related deaths were reported as unintentional accidents.
Next
Welcome!
Welcome to TCIC (Tracey, Christel, Iryna, and Constantine) University! You’ve been accepted as a student and will live at student residences. Living in a new ‘home away from home’ gives you more freedom to make your own choices but increases your personal and social responsibility.
Start
Your mission
You’ve been selected to be a member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee and were assigned to implement fire safety reminders among the residents. It’s time to meet your roommate and neighbours.
Play
meet your neighbors
Allie greets you outside and beckons you to come in as she unlocks her door. You notice her struggling to open it, and there seems to be resistance as she pushes the door open.
Next
You enter and see piles of shoes and packages blocking the doorway. She motions you into the living room, and you see clothes, books and papers all over Allie’s floors and desks. What do you do?
Do nothing. I just met her. The state of her room is none of my business.
Offer to help clean up.
Sometimes, doing nothing can be more harmful than helpful. Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention.
A blocked exit can be life-threatening in the event of a fire. Clutter can also add fuel to the fire. All exits, including windows and doors, must be cleared of clutter.
You decide to help Allie clean up.
You look at the room and identify potential hazards in the room. You and Allie start to de-clutter the room and make all exits and entryways accessible. You remind Allie of its importance to fire safety.
Why it's important
Plan out a safety route and make sure to check that all of your windows and doors are working properly. Health Canada (2022) recommends having a clear and well-practiced escape plan. It is important to identify two ways out of the room if possible, as knowing how to escape safely in the event of a fire is important.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
Your next-door neighbour, Bella offers to cook you breakfast and says she will prepare eggs and bacon. She offers you a seat, opens the windows and goes to the kitchen.
Next
Soon, you hear sizzling, and you smell bacon. A few minutes later, you hear a phone ringing, and Bella rushes out of the kitchen to pick up the phone, saying that it might be her doctor calling. What do you do?
Remind Bella about the stovetop.
Check on the stovetop.
Sometimes, a simple reminder is not enough. Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention as cooking requires constant attention.
Distractions like televisions, cell phones, or computers can lead to a tragic cooking fire. A stovetop fire can start instantly. A few minutes of distraction can cause a lifetime of destruction.
You decide to check on the stovetop.
Thinking that Bella may take a while, you move to the kitchen to check on the food. You notice that Bella set the fire on low and see the bacon still cooking. You see a roll of paper towel next to a plate on a stovetop. You also see a jug of water, flour and baking soda nearby. You watch the food, and soon Bella comes back.
Next
Bella thanks you and increases the temperature for the bacon to cook faster. A small grease fire ignites. You hear the smoke alarm. And Bella panics. Immediately, you turn off the stove and cover it with a metal lid. What do you do?
You grab flour
You grab water
You grab soda
You grab flour
The fire grows worse. Powdered ingredients like flour and baking powder are highly combustible.
If the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services.
Try again
You grab water
The fire grows worse. There is a saying oil and water don’t mix, and the same is true when putting out a grease fire. Oil repels water and vice versa. NEVER try to extinguish a grease fire with water.
If the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services.
Try again
you grab baking soda
You were able to extinguish the fire. Baking soda releases carbon dioxide, which can help smother the fire. Keep in mind that you will need a substantial amount of baking soda.
Knowing the difference between baking soda and baking powder is also important. If the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services.
Next
Bella thanks you for your quick thinking, and you thank her for having a working smoke alarm. You remind her of the importance of attending to cooking at all times.
Why it's important
Cooking is one of the leading cause of house fires (Statistics Canada, 2022). Any device that generates heat, like a stove, is a potential fire hazard. Attend to your cooking at all times. When cooking with grease, it’s important to know the warning signs when oils are getting too hot. Boiling and smoking are good indicators that it’s time to lower the heatIf the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services. A good thing to remember is: Fire requires three key elements: a heat source, fuel, and oxygen. Removing either of these components will help you in putting the fire out.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
You knocked on Candace’s door, and there was no answer. You wait outside, and soon you see a female running up with grocery bags in both hands. She introduces herself as Candace and apologizes for making you wait.
Next
You tell her not to worry about it and offer to help her with her bags. She unlocks the door and thanks you. She invites you in, and upon entering, you are greeted with the candle's scent of lavender and Mia, the cat. What do you do?
You compliment her and share that you love the smell of lavender.
You greet Mia, the cat.
She thanks you and shares that she frequently lights candles to help her relax.
Next
You found that Mia is friendly, while Candace shares that she is only watching Mia for a couple of days, as her friend had to go out of town.
Next
You walk over to the living room and see rows of lit lavender-scented candles on a decorative piece placed on the coffee table alongside her books. You look around and notice lit candles by the windows and dining table. The candles looked to have been burning for a while due to the amount of wax present. What do you do?
You continue to compliment her.
Remind Candace about fire safety.
Ignoring signs of safety risks can be harmful. Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention. Leaving lit candles unattended can lead to a fire.
Accidents happen, and placing candles near combustible items, such as books, serves as fuel to fire, especially when pets accidentally knock them over.
You decide to remind her about safety
You let Candace know about the dangers of leaving a candle unattended, especially for longer periods of time and with a pet walking around the apartment. Candace laughs it off and says she was only gone for at least an hour. She shares that she has left her candles alone for years, and nothing ever happened. She mentions that Mia has never knocked over anything.
Next
Suddenly, you hear a loud crash from upstairs, which startles you both. Candace, who was carrying Mia, drops her in alarm, and Mia runs off in fear towards the coffee table. You both see Mia knocking all the candles off a nearby ledge. Luckily due to the collection of wax, the flame is snuffed out before any damage can be done.
Next
Candace sighs in relief and apologizes for not taking you seriously. She acknowledges and recognizes that accidents do happen and promises to be more careful from now on.
Next
Burning candles should never be left unattended. Any open flame is subject to accidents. Blow out any candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
You’ve known Ellie since high school, and she invites you to her place, where she shares a space with two other roommates. Her friend, Cordia, greets you as you walk in.
Next
Ellie mentions that she is hungry and wants a slice of toast. She offers you one, and you decline, saying you’re not hungry. You follow her into the kitchen and trip over one of the rugs on the doorway, revealing an electric fan cord stretched taut facing the kitchen. What do you do?
You laugh at your clumsiness.
Speak to Ellie about thr cord.
Ignoring signs of safety risks can be harmful. Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention. Electrical cords should never be stretched as they can cause damage over time.
Leaving cords frayed are at a higher risk of fires caused by electrical equipment. In addition, it generates a tripping hazard in the event of an evacuation.
Speak to Ellie about fire safety.
You let Ellie know about the risks of damaging cords or wires. Both for causing a fire and as a tripping hazard, especially during an evacuation.
Next
Ellie apologizes for not warning you and shares that they often place the fan there as there are not enough outlets in the kitchen. And it helps with airing out the smoke and smell when they start cooking. Ellie unplugs the electrical fan and tucks it safely around the corner.
Next
Ellie eats her toast, invites you to see the paper she is working on and takes you back to the living room. She grabs her laptop and plugs in her charger in an outlet. You notice that they have an outlet extender and see that the TV, a floor lamp, and a PS5 are connected.
Next
Cordia comes by and asks if she can plug in her phone as her phone is running low on battery. Ellie agrees, and Cordia passes her charger. You noticed that the cables are badly frayed. What do you do?
Continue reading Ellie’s paper.
You ask Cordia what type of phone she has.
Ignoring signs of safety risks can be harmful. Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention.Frayed, bent, or damaged cords/cables can cause electrical fires. Replace them as soon as you notice they are damaged.
Please do not attempt to patch them by taping them, even with electrical tape. In addition, overloading an outlet can cause the circuit breaker to break. The circuit breaker protects the equipment and helps prevent it from causing a fire.
You ask Cordia what type of phone she has.
Cordia says she has an Android phone similar to what you have. You offer to lend her your phone charger and let her and Ellie know about the dangers of using a damaged cord and overloading an outlet.
Next
Ellie and Cordia thank you for your tips and warning and share that they feel relieved to have you as a member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee at residences.
Next
Frayed, bent, or damaged cords/cables can cause electrical fires. Replace them as soon as you notice they are damaged. Please do not attempt to patch them by taping them, even with electrical tape. If you cannot get a new one, consider borrowing one from a friend and check if the wires are in good condition. Overloading an outlet can cause the circuit breaker to break. The circuit breaker protects the equipment and helps prevent it from causing a fire.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
The days are getting colder. You get the phone call from Sammie to come over for hot chocolate. You thank Sammie for the nifty idea of having some hot beverage as it is freezing outside and cold in the dorm. A few minutes later, you knock at his door.
Next
Upon entering, you notice that it is blissfully warm in his room. You look around and see that he has a blanket, a jug of water, books, and what looks to be laundry drying on a rack right next to a space heater. You see that Sammie also has a fire extinguisher. What do you do?
You comment on how warm it is.
You comment on the laundry.
You comment on the fire extinguisher.
Sammie shares that he gets cold really quickly and likes to wrap himself around the blanket and have his space heater running for hours.
Next
Sammie shares that he is trying to dry his laundry quicker by placing it near a heater since he does not want to go out in the cold.
Next
Sammie shares that he likes to be prepared in case of an emergency and keeps a fire extinguisher handy, checking on it periodically to make sure it is in working condition.
Next
You discover that Sammie likes to run his space heater for hours to keep warm. What do you do?
Nothing. You are thankful that it is warm.
You ask Sammie to move the laundry away from the heater.
Sometimes, doing nothing can be more harmful than helpful. Ignoring signs of safety risks pose higher risks of causing a fire.Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention
Space heaters need space since they generate a lot of heat. We must keep combustible materials away from the heater by at least 3 feet, including books, furniture, papers, or clothing. Prolonged exposure to heat can cause a fire.
You decide to ask Sammie to move the laundry away.
You let Sammie know the dangers of keeping combustible materials next to a space heater. He thanks you for your warning and reassures you that everything is fine and that we are both here to watch if anything happens. He invites you to relax as he makes the hot chocolate. The laundry is left next to the heater.
Next
You are both enjoying your hot chocolate. When you suddenly smell burning, you both look to see a small fire on one of the clothes next to the space heater. You both hear the smoke alarm. And rush to deal with the situation. What do you do?
You act quickly and dump water out of the water jug.
You act quickly and use a blanket.
You get shocked, and Sammie panics, calling 911. Water conducts electricity. Fires next to running electrical equipment should always be approached with extreme caution. If safe to do so, turn off the appliance before an attempt is made.
Next
Water and electricity are a deadly combination. If the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services.
back
You successfully smother the fire and notice that Sammie has the fire extinguisher at hand after safely unplugging the space heater.
Next
A good thing to remember is: Fire requires three key elements: a heat source, fuel, and oxygen. Removing either of these components will help you in putting the fire out. If the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services.
Fires next to running electrical equipment should always be approached with extreme caution. If safe to do so, turn off the appliance before an attempt is made.
Next
Never leave heaters unattended; always turn them off when not in use before going to bed or leaving. Having a working smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, and fire extinguisher can save lives.
Next
Unintentional fire-related accidents are more common during the winter. According to Statistics Canada (2022), during 2011-2020, the number of residential fires increased in early fall and peaked in the winter due to the increased usage of heaters and remaining indoors for extended periods.
Next
Sammie thanks you for your quick response, and you thank him for having a working smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher. Sammie apologizes for not taking you seriously. He acknowledges that even while being there, fire accidents can still happen.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
You and Sydney, have been invited to a party at Greg’s dorm room. Sydney has a crush on Greg and wants to make a good impression. You and Sydney arrive at the party and find that there are lots of people smoking and drinking.
Next
Sydney wants to find Greg to talk to him and you both decide to squeeze into the room. As you both move through the room you notice that it’s difficult to move through the crowd and the further into the room you go it starts to fill with more and more smoke.
Next
Finally, you and Sydney reach Greg. Sydney is really interested in Greg and you don’t want to cause problems for her but the smoke is becoming overwhelming. What do you do?
Tell Sydney that you want to leave.
Tell Greg to direct people to smoke outside.
Overcrowding can make it difficult to control the situation, should something happen. You decide to tell Greg about it.
Next
On your way out, you tell Greg to direct people to smoke outside to avoid overcrowding. Greg agrees, as he has noticed that it was hard to move around the room. He shares that he had some of his friends walk some of the guests home as some were already drunk.
Next
With alcohol and smoking combined it is a serious fire risk. Alcohol or drug consumption may impair judgment and coordination, increasing the risk of accidentally starting a fire or struggling to react. For example, it hinders one’s ability to wake up and escape a fire.
Next
Parties are a part of student life. Making sure that signs are posted directing people to smoke outside is a way to minimize the risk of fires.
31% of unintentional residential fire-related deaths, medical examiners reported the consumption of alcohol, marijuana, or illicit substances commonly found in individuals aged 15 and older (Statistics Canada, 2022).Unintentional fire-related accidents are more common during the winter. According to Statistics Canada (2022), during 2011-2020, the number of residential fires increased in early fall and peaked in the winter due to the increased usage of heaters and remaining indoors for extended periods.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
The school has decided to complete a renovation of a section of one of the dormitories. This work is being done while residents occupy the adjacent section.
Next
There has been a lot of dust and fumes that have penetrated the occupied section. This has caused all of the residents’ smoke alarms to be triggered periodically, causing much disruption to residents’ schedules.
Next
Several residents began disconnecting their smoke alarms to cope with the disruption and get uninterrupted study and sleep time. After a few days, almost all of the residents had disconnected the smoke alarms as they were still audible in this section. What should Robin do?
Robin should give in and disable her smoke alarm.
Robin should report the situation to the university.
Disabling a smoke alarm is against the law. Your room or apartment must have working smoke alarms. Consider getting a smoke alarm with a hush feature if smoke alarms to avoid nuisance/disruptive alarms.
According to Statistics Canada (2022), at least 14% of unintentional fire-related fatalities between 2011-2020 occurred in residences where the smoke alarm was either missing or non-functional.
Back
It is the landlord’s responsibility to move the alarm or install an alarm with a pause feature. Additionally, the university could contact the contractor to minimize the dust and fumes. While it is important for students to have uninterrupted time, disabling a smoke alarm is not a solution.
It is critical to have working smoke alarms in case of a fire, especially during a renovation. Statistics Canada (2022) stated that at least 1 in 7 unintentional fire-related deaths occurred in homes without a working smoke alarm.
Next
Never tamper with or disable a smoke alarm. Test them monthly and immediately notify the landlord or resident supervisor if your alarms are not working. Replace dead batteries right away. Smoke alarms save lives.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
After the weekend at home with your parents, you return to your residence dorm room which you share with Sydney.You can tell that your roommate hosted a busy party while you were away.
Next
Bottles are everywhere, the room is messy, and there are a few ashtrays full of cigarette butts.Sydney is still asleep, and by looking at the room, you can tell that the other party guests just left. You notice that they have an unfinished lit cigarette in their hand.
Next
Sydney is still asleep, and by looking at the room, you can tell that the other party guests just left. You notice that they have an unfinished lit cigarette in their hand. What do you do?
You are mad and start yelling at your roommate.
You quietly remove the cigarette from Sydney's hand.
You startled Sydney, and she drops the cigarette on the floor covered with some books and notebooks. The cigarette starts the fire. You quickly put out the fire with a Class A fire extinguisher.
Careless or accidental disposal of cigarettes or marijuana rolls contributes to unintentional fires and poses a higher risk, especially when they have been drinking alcohol. Using data collected by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, cigarette fires resulted in more deaths than other sources (Statistics Canada, 2022).
Back
Sydney stirs, but is still asleep.
Among the most common causes of house fires is the consequence of negligent smoking habits. People sometimes fall asleep while smoking. In doing so, they can set their bed, chair or couch on fire, which can easily result in a fatality.
Next
You start cleaning up the mess. You grab a recycling bag and start collecting empty bottles. You move towards the ashtrays filled with cigarette butts. What do you do?
You start dumping cigarette butts from the ashtrays into the garbage.
You take the ashtrays to the kitchen sink.
Dumping still-hot ashes or cigarette butts into trash can cause fire as it can ignite. It’s always good to exercise caution and check to make sure that they are completely extinguished.
If possible, empty ashtrays in metal containers, not trash cans, and ensure that the ashes are cooled before disposal. Douse cigarettes with water or sand to make sure they are extinguished completely.
Back
You take them over to the sink and pour water over them. Extinguishing cigarettes completely as cigarettes should be doused with water or sand to make sure they are put out all the way.
Next
Most smoking-related fires occur in living rooms and bedrooms, it is best to smoke outside. Cigarette butts or ashes can ignite many things in a home, such as curtains, beds or books. Even if you don't smoke, you may know someone who does. It is essential to establish rules for smokers. Encourage them to smoke outside, and if permitted inside, use large, deep ashtrays that won't be easily knocked over, reducing the risk of lit ashes and cigarette butts falling onto rugs or furniture.
Next
Congratulations! You successfully implement fire safety reminders among the residents of TCIC University!
References
CCOHS. (2022, November 24). Fire Extinguishers - Portable. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. http://ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/fire_extinguishers.html
Statistics Canada. (2022, June 16). Circumstances surrounding unintentional fire-related deaths, 2011 to 2020. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220616/dq220616b-eng.htm
Fire Prevention and Safety Game
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Transcript
Fire Prevention & Safety Game
Start
Safety in the occurrence of a disaster, and also in the prevention of tragedy, is a topic which is essential to be taught.
Next
According to Statistics Canada (2022), there were approximately 220 fire-related deaths in Canada each year between 2011-2020; and 81% of these fire-related deaths were reported as unintentional accidents.
Next
Welcome!
Welcome to TCIC (Tracey, Christel, Iryna, and Constantine) University! You’ve been accepted as a student and will live at student residences. Living in a new ‘home away from home’ gives you more freedom to make your own choices but increases your personal and social responsibility.
Start
Your mission
You’ve been selected to be a member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee and were assigned to implement fire safety reminders among the residents. It’s time to meet your roommate and neighbours.
Play
meet your neighbors
Allie greets you outside and beckons you to come in as she unlocks her door. You notice her struggling to open it, and there seems to be resistance as she pushes the door open.
Next
You enter and see piles of shoes and packages blocking the doorway. She motions you into the living room, and you see clothes, books and papers all over Allie’s floors and desks. What do you do?
Do nothing. I just met her. The state of her room is none of my business.
Offer to help clean up.
Sometimes, doing nothing can be more harmful than helpful. Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention.
A blocked exit can be life-threatening in the event of a fire. Clutter can also add fuel to the fire. All exits, including windows and doors, must be cleared of clutter.
You decide to help Allie clean up.
You look at the room and identify potential hazards in the room. You and Allie start to de-clutter the room and make all exits and entryways accessible. You remind Allie of its importance to fire safety.
Why it's important
Plan out a safety route and make sure to check that all of your windows and doors are working properly. Health Canada (2022) recommends having a clear and well-practiced escape plan. It is important to identify two ways out of the room if possible, as knowing how to escape safely in the event of a fire is important.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
Your next-door neighbour, Bella offers to cook you breakfast and says she will prepare eggs and bacon. She offers you a seat, opens the windows and goes to the kitchen.
Next
Soon, you hear sizzling, and you smell bacon. A few minutes later, you hear a phone ringing, and Bella rushes out of the kitchen to pick up the phone, saying that it might be her doctor calling. What do you do?
Remind Bella about the stovetop.
Check on the stovetop.
Sometimes, a simple reminder is not enough. Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention as cooking requires constant attention.
Distractions like televisions, cell phones, or computers can lead to a tragic cooking fire. A stovetop fire can start instantly. A few minutes of distraction can cause a lifetime of destruction.
You decide to check on the stovetop.
Thinking that Bella may take a while, you move to the kitchen to check on the food. You notice that Bella set the fire on low and see the bacon still cooking. You see a roll of paper towel next to a plate on a stovetop. You also see a jug of water, flour and baking soda nearby. You watch the food, and soon Bella comes back.
Next
Bella thanks you and increases the temperature for the bacon to cook faster. A small grease fire ignites. You hear the smoke alarm. And Bella panics. Immediately, you turn off the stove and cover it with a metal lid. What do you do?
You grab flour
You grab water
You grab soda
You grab flour
The fire grows worse. Powdered ingredients like flour and baking powder are highly combustible.
If the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services.
Try again
You grab water
The fire grows worse. There is a saying oil and water don’t mix, and the same is true when putting out a grease fire. Oil repels water and vice versa. NEVER try to extinguish a grease fire with water.
If the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services.
Try again
you grab baking soda
You were able to extinguish the fire. Baking soda releases carbon dioxide, which can help smother the fire. Keep in mind that you will need a substantial amount of baking soda.
Knowing the difference between baking soda and baking powder is also important. If the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services.
Next
Bella thanks you for your quick thinking, and you thank her for having a working smoke alarm. You remind her of the importance of attending to cooking at all times.
Why it's important
Cooking is one of the leading cause of house fires (Statistics Canada, 2022). Any device that generates heat, like a stove, is a potential fire hazard. Attend to your cooking at all times. When cooking with grease, it’s important to know the warning signs when oils are getting too hot. Boiling and smoking are good indicators that it’s time to lower the heatIf the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services. A good thing to remember is: Fire requires three key elements: a heat source, fuel, and oxygen. Removing either of these components will help you in putting the fire out.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
You knocked on Candace’s door, and there was no answer. You wait outside, and soon you see a female running up with grocery bags in both hands. She introduces herself as Candace and apologizes for making you wait.
Next
You tell her not to worry about it and offer to help her with her bags. She unlocks the door and thanks you. She invites you in, and upon entering, you are greeted with the candle's scent of lavender and Mia, the cat. What do you do?
You compliment her and share that you love the smell of lavender.
You greet Mia, the cat.
She thanks you and shares that she frequently lights candles to help her relax.
Next
You found that Mia is friendly, while Candace shares that she is only watching Mia for a couple of days, as her friend had to go out of town.
Next
You walk over to the living room and see rows of lit lavender-scented candles on a decorative piece placed on the coffee table alongside her books. You look around and notice lit candles by the windows and dining table. The candles looked to have been burning for a while due to the amount of wax present. What do you do?
You continue to compliment her.
Remind Candace about fire safety.
Ignoring signs of safety risks can be harmful. Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention. Leaving lit candles unattended can lead to a fire.
Accidents happen, and placing candles near combustible items, such as books, serves as fuel to fire, especially when pets accidentally knock them over.
You decide to remind her about safety
You let Candace know about the dangers of leaving a candle unattended, especially for longer periods of time and with a pet walking around the apartment. Candace laughs it off and says she was only gone for at least an hour. She shares that she has left her candles alone for years, and nothing ever happened. She mentions that Mia has never knocked over anything.
Next
Suddenly, you hear a loud crash from upstairs, which startles you both. Candace, who was carrying Mia, drops her in alarm, and Mia runs off in fear towards the coffee table. You both see Mia knocking all the candles off a nearby ledge. Luckily due to the collection of wax, the flame is snuffed out before any damage can be done.
Next
Candace sighs in relief and apologizes for not taking you seriously. She acknowledges and recognizes that accidents do happen and promises to be more careful from now on.
Next
Burning candles should never be left unattended. Any open flame is subject to accidents. Blow out any candles before leaving the room or going to bed.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
You’ve known Ellie since high school, and she invites you to her place, where she shares a space with two other roommates. Her friend, Cordia, greets you as you walk in.
Next
Ellie mentions that she is hungry and wants a slice of toast. She offers you one, and you decline, saying you’re not hungry. You follow her into the kitchen and trip over one of the rugs on the doorway, revealing an electric fan cord stretched taut facing the kitchen. What do you do?
You laugh at your clumsiness.
Speak to Ellie about thr cord.
Ignoring signs of safety risks can be harmful. Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention. Electrical cords should never be stretched as they can cause damage over time.
Leaving cords frayed are at a higher risk of fires caused by electrical equipment. In addition, it generates a tripping hazard in the event of an evacuation.
Speak to Ellie about fire safety.
You let Ellie know about the risks of damaging cords or wires. Both for causing a fire and as a tripping hazard, especially during an evacuation.
Next
Ellie apologizes for not warning you and shares that they often place the fan there as there are not enough outlets in the kitchen. And it helps with airing out the smoke and smell when they start cooking. Ellie unplugs the electrical fan and tucks it safely around the corner.
Next
Ellie eats her toast, invites you to see the paper she is working on and takes you back to the living room. She grabs her laptop and plugs in her charger in an outlet. You notice that they have an outlet extender and see that the TV, a floor lamp, and a PS5 are connected.
Next
Cordia comes by and asks if she can plug in her phone as her phone is running low on battery. Ellie agrees, and Cordia passes her charger. You noticed that the cables are badly frayed. What do you do?
Continue reading Ellie’s paper.
You ask Cordia what type of phone she has.
Ignoring signs of safety risks can be harmful. Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention.Frayed, bent, or damaged cords/cables can cause electrical fires. Replace them as soon as you notice they are damaged.
Please do not attempt to patch them by taping them, even with electrical tape. In addition, overloading an outlet can cause the circuit breaker to break. The circuit breaker protects the equipment and helps prevent it from causing a fire.
You ask Cordia what type of phone she has.
Cordia says she has an Android phone similar to what you have. You offer to lend her your phone charger and let her and Ellie know about the dangers of using a damaged cord and overloading an outlet.
Next
Ellie and Cordia thank you for your tips and warning and share that they feel relieved to have you as a member of the Joint Health and Safety Committee at residences.
Next
Frayed, bent, or damaged cords/cables can cause electrical fires. Replace them as soon as you notice they are damaged. Please do not attempt to patch them by taping them, even with electrical tape. If you cannot get a new one, consider borrowing one from a friend and check if the wires are in good condition. Overloading an outlet can cause the circuit breaker to break. The circuit breaker protects the equipment and helps prevent it from causing a fire.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
The days are getting colder. You get the phone call from Sammie to come over for hot chocolate. You thank Sammie for the nifty idea of having some hot beverage as it is freezing outside and cold in the dorm. A few minutes later, you knock at his door.
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Upon entering, you notice that it is blissfully warm in his room. You look around and see that he has a blanket, a jug of water, books, and what looks to be laundry drying on a rack right next to a space heater. You see that Sammie also has a fire extinguisher. What do you do?
You comment on how warm it is.
You comment on the laundry.
You comment on the fire extinguisher.
Sammie shares that he gets cold really quickly and likes to wrap himself around the blanket and have his space heater running for hours.
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Sammie shares that he is trying to dry his laundry quicker by placing it near a heater since he does not want to go out in the cold.
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Sammie shares that he likes to be prepared in case of an emergency and keeps a fire extinguisher handy, checking on it periodically to make sure it is in working condition.
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You discover that Sammie likes to run his space heater for hours to keep warm. What do you do?
Nothing. You are thankful that it is warm.
You ask Sammie to move the laundry away from the heater.
Sometimes, doing nothing can be more harmful than helpful. Ignoring signs of safety risks pose higher risks of causing a fire.Identifying and addressing potential hazards is the first step to prevention
Space heaters need space since they generate a lot of heat. We must keep combustible materials away from the heater by at least 3 feet, including books, furniture, papers, or clothing. Prolonged exposure to heat can cause a fire.
You decide to ask Sammie to move the laundry away.
You let Sammie know the dangers of keeping combustible materials next to a space heater. He thanks you for your warning and reassures you that everything is fine and that we are both here to watch if anything happens. He invites you to relax as he makes the hot chocolate. The laundry is left next to the heater.
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You are both enjoying your hot chocolate. When you suddenly smell burning, you both look to see a small fire on one of the clothes next to the space heater. You both hear the smoke alarm. And rush to deal with the situation. What do you do?
You act quickly and dump water out of the water jug.
You act quickly and use a blanket.
You get shocked, and Sammie panics, calling 911. Water conducts electricity. Fires next to running electrical equipment should always be approached with extreme caution. If safe to do so, turn off the appliance before an attempt is made.
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Water and electricity are a deadly combination. If the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services.
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You successfully smother the fire and notice that Sammie has the fire extinguisher at hand after safely unplugging the space heater.
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A good thing to remember is: Fire requires three key elements: a heat source, fuel, and oxygen. Removing either of these components will help you in putting the fire out. If the fire appears to be out of control, leave immediately and call 911 or emergency services.
Fires next to running electrical equipment should always be approached with extreme caution. If safe to do so, turn off the appliance before an attempt is made.
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Never leave heaters unattended; always turn them off when not in use before going to bed or leaving. Having a working smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, and fire extinguisher can save lives.
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Unintentional fire-related accidents are more common during the winter. According to Statistics Canada (2022), during 2011-2020, the number of residential fires increased in early fall and peaked in the winter due to the increased usage of heaters and remaining indoors for extended periods.
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Sammie thanks you for your quick response, and you thank him for having a working smoke alarm and a fire extinguisher. Sammie apologizes for not taking you seriously. He acknowledges that even while being there, fire accidents can still happen.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
You and Sydney, have been invited to a party at Greg’s dorm room. Sydney has a crush on Greg and wants to make a good impression. You and Sydney arrive at the party and find that there are lots of people smoking and drinking.
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Sydney wants to find Greg to talk to him and you both decide to squeeze into the room. As you both move through the room you notice that it’s difficult to move through the crowd and the further into the room you go it starts to fill with more and more smoke.
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Finally, you and Sydney reach Greg. Sydney is really interested in Greg and you don’t want to cause problems for her but the smoke is becoming overwhelming. What do you do?
Tell Sydney that you want to leave.
Tell Greg to direct people to smoke outside.
Overcrowding can make it difficult to control the situation, should something happen. You decide to tell Greg about it.
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On your way out, you tell Greg to direct people to smoke outside to avoid overcrowding. Greg agrees, as he has noticed that it was hard to move around the room. He shares that he had some of his friends walk some of the guests home as some were already drunk.
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With alcohol and smoking combined it is a serious fire risk. Alcohol or drug consumption may impair judgment and coordination, increasing the risk of accidentally starting a fire or struggling to react. For example, it hinders one’s ability to wake up and escape a fire.
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Parties are a part of student life. Making sure that signs are posted directing people to smoke outside is a way to minimize the risk of fires.
31% of unintentional residential fire-related deaths, medical examiners reported the consumption of alcohol, marijuana, or illicit substances commonly found in individuals aged 15 and older (Statistics Canada, 2022).Unintentional fire-related accidents are more common during the winter. According to Statistics Canada (2022), during 2011-2020, the number of residential fires increased in early fall and peaked in the winter due to the increased usage of heaters and remaining indoors for extended periods.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
The school has decided to complete a renovation of a section of one of the dormitories. This work is being done while residents occupy the adjacent section.
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There has been a lot of dust and fumes that have penetrated the occupied section. This has caused all of the residents’ smoke alarms to be triggered periodically, causing much disruption to residents’ schedules.
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Several residents began disconnecting their smoke alarms to cope with the disruption and get uninterrupted study and sleep time. After a few days, almost all of the residents had disconnected the smoke alarms as they were still audible in this section. What should Robin do?
Robin should give in and disable her smoke alarm.
Robin should report the situation to the university.
Disabling a smoke alarm is against the law. Your room or apartment must have working smoke alarms. Consider getting a smoke alarm with a hush feature if smoke alarms to avoid nuisance/disruptive alarms.
According to Statistics Canada (2022), at least 14% of unintentional fire-related fatalities between 2011-2020 occurred in residences where the smoke alarm was either missing or non-functional.
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It is the landlord’s responsibility to move the alarm or install an alarm with a pause feature. Additionally, the university could contact the contractor to minimize the dust and fumes. While it is important for students to have uninterrupted time, disabling a smoke alarm is not a solution.
It is critical to have working smoke alarms in case of a fire, especially during a renovation. Statistics Canada (2022) stated that at least 1 in 7 unintentional fire-related deaths occurred in homes without a working smoke alarm.
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Never tamper with or disable a smoke alarm. Test them monthly and immediately notify the landlord or resident supervisor if your alarms are not working. Replace dead batteries right away. Smoke alarms save lives.
Meet your next neighbour
meet your neighbors
After the weekend at home with your parents, you return to your residence dorm room which you share with Sydney.You can tell that your roommate hosted a busy party while you were away.
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Bottles are everywhere, the room is messy, and there are a few ashtrays full of cigarette butts.Sydney is still asleep, and by looking at the room, you can tell that the other party guests just left. You notice that they have an unfinished lit cigarette in their hand.
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Sydney is still asleep, and by looking at the room, you can tell that the other party guests just left. You notice that they have an unfinished lit cigarette in their hand. What do you do?
You are mad and start yelling at your roommate.
You quietly remove the cigarette from Sydney's hand.
You startled Sydney, and she drops the cigarette on the floor covered with some books and notebooks. The cigarette starts the fire. You quickly put out the fire with a Class A fire extinguisher.
Careless or accidental disposal of cigarettes or marijuana rolls contributes to unintentional fires and poses a higher risk, especially when they have been drinking alcohol. Using data collected by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, cigarette fires resulted in more deaths than other sources (Statistics Canada, 2022).
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Sydney stirs, but is still asleep.
Among the most common causes of house fires is the consequence of negligent smoking habits. People sometimes fall asleep while smoking. In doing so, they can set their bed, chair or couch on fire, which can easily result in a fatality.
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You start cleaning up the mess. You grab a recycling bag and start collecting empty bottles. You move towards the ashtrays filled with cigarette butts. What do you do?
You start dumping cigarette butts from the ashtrays into the garbage.
You take the ashtrays to the kitchen sink.
Dumping still-hot ashes or cigarette butts into trash can cause fire as it can ignite. It’s always good to exercise caution and check to make sure that they are completely extinguished.
If possible, empty ashtrays in metal containers, not trash cans, and ensure that the ashes are cooled before disposal. Douse cigarettes with water or sand to make sure they are extinguished completely.
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You take them over to the sink and pour water over them. Extinguishing cigarettes completely as cigarettes should be doused with water or sand to make sure they are put out all the way.
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Most smoking-related fires occur in living rooms and bedrooms, it is best to smoke outside. Cigarette butts or ashes can ignite many things in a home, such as curtains, beds or books. Even if you don't smoke, you may know someone who does. It is essential to establish rules for smokers. Encourage them to smoke outside, and if permitted inside, use large, deep ashtrays that won't be easily knocked over, reducing the risk of lit ashes and cigarette butts falling onto rugs or furniture.
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Congratulations! You successfully implement fire safety reminders among the residents of TCIC University!
References
CCOHS. (2022, November 24). Fire Extinguishers - Portable. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. http://ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/fire_extinguishers.html Statistics Canada. (2022, June 16). Circumstances surrounding unintentional fire-related deaths, 2011 to 2020. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220616/dq220616b-eng.htm