2:37 p.m., Sept. 20, 2010----September is Campus Fire Safety Month nationally; statistics show that more fires occur on campus during the first month of the session than any other time of the year.

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The University's Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is reminding all students, faculty and staff of the importance of following safe procedures all year round.

Two new initiatives on the campus now make it easier for students to learn more about fire safety.

Learn online

For the first time this year, students have the opportunity to participate in a new online fire safety training class and to enter a sweepstakes to win prizes. Designed to allow students to learn about fire safety online and at their own pace, the website [igot2kno.org] includes a series of interactive games, FAQs, videos and much more to help share important information about campus fire safety.

During September, students who complete the modules can enter a sweepstakes to be eligible to win prizes, including iPods, pizza certificates from Domino's, smoke alarms and flameless candles. Grand prize is an iPad. The grant-funded class is presented by the American Burn Foundation and Campus Firewatch.

Cooking safety

Also, this year, steps have been taken to increase fire safety involving cooking in residence halls. Last year, cooking-related fire alarm incidents were the leading cause of nuisance fire alarms in student housing. This year, all stove units in UD residence halls have been equipped with Stovetop Safe-T elements. This technology protects against unattended cooking fires by regulating stove burner temperatures up to 668 degrees Fahrenheit. Even with this new technology, students are reminded to be attentive when cooking.

A new web-based cooking fire safety training class is available on the EHS/Fire Safety webpage. Check it out to ensure that you're following safe procedures when you cook. Both the Safe-T elements and the training class were funded by a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant awarded last year.

Safety training

In August, more than 200 resident assistants participated in a Fire Safety Night, which included live fire extinguisher training, crawling out of a smoke-filled residence hall, putting a lid on pan fires and interactive training with Community Police officers from the UD Police Department.

This month, fire prevention efforts continued with a Sept. 10 Residence Life Safety Fair at the Perkins Student Center that included display tables and more hands-on fire extinguisher training. Fire drills are being planned throughout the month in residence halls, and EHS staff members are making visits around campus to promote fire safety.

For more information on Campus Fire Safety Month or general information on fire prevention and fire protection programs, contact Kevin McSweeney, fire protection engineer in EHS, at 831-6847 or by email at [kmcsween@udel.edu].

Photos courtesy of Ivet Ziegelbauer, Residence Life