2008 Woodie Awards
Letter: Libraries dean says awareness of fire drill procedures necessary at university
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Editorial/Opinion
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10/23/07 - To the Cigar,
On Thursday, Oct. 11 at 11:30 a.m., the fire alarm sounded in the University Library. We all looked at each other, wondered what that sound might be, and then realized, in fact, that it was the Library fire alarm. Following procedure, we evacuated our respected work areas, and proceeded to the exits at the corners of the Library.
Many of the staff were astonished that the students remained seated and appeared to be unaware of the sound of the fire alarms as they echoed off the walls and ranges of books. Realizing this, our staff went onto the floors and asked the students to leave. This is not recommended fire policy, because everyone should evacuate immediately for fear of being trapped in a fire/smoke situation.
We were astonished when many of the students refused to leave the tables at which they were studying.
In fact, I was told, "It was only a drill, and I have no intention of leaving. I have studying I have to do."
I proceeded to have to reiterate my directive with a number of the young men involved in this unnecessary confrontational situation. I suspect I prevailed, only because of my gray hair, not because of any awareness on their part that this might be a real fire situation.
It has been determined that people leave a building the way in which they have entered the building. This became very obvious during this fire alarm. An obvious example of our lack of fire awareness is that many people leaving the second and third floors did not use the proper exit. Eighty percent of the students exiting these floors used the central stairway.
This glass enclosed stairway is not designated as an exit. This stairway could act as a flume in the event of a real fire, and students could become entrapped either by smoke or fire. The designated exits, in case of fire, are the four corner stairways; but these exits were not utilized by the students.
It is somewhat ironic that the following Friday edition of the Cigar, the front page article was about fire safety, false alarms and the need to inform the university on the proper fire procedures. It became quite obvious in the Library during that Thursday's exercise, there is a need to heighten awareness of this on our campus.
It seemed that the students' priority was slowly packing up and saving a laptop or continuing to study. Both of these reactions are understandable, but I believe we should be aware of what to do in an emergency.
In September, not our busiest month, the gate count of persons using the library was 69,905. The library faculty and staff will feel more secure and be more reassured if we thought our patrons knew what to do if there ever was a real emergency situation.
David C. Maslyn
Dean of University Libraries
On Thursday, Oct. 11 at 11:30 a.m., the fire alarm sounded in the University Library. We all looked at each other, wondered what that sound might be, and then realized, in fact, that it was the Library fire alarm. Following procedure, we evacuated our respected work areas, and proceeded to the exits at the corners of the Library.
Many of the staff were astonished that the students remained seated and appeared to be unaware of the sound of the fire alarms as they echoed off the walls and ranges of books. Realizing this, our staff went onto the floors and asked the students to leave. This is not recommended fire policy, because everyone should evacuate immediately for fear of being trapped in a fire/smoke situation.
We were astonished when many of the students refused to leave the tables at which they were studying.
In fact, I was told, "It was only a drill, and I have no intention of leaving. I have studying I have to do."
I proceeded to have to reiterate my directive with a number of the young men involved in this unnecessary confrontational situation. I suspect I prevailed, only because of my gray hair, not because of any awareness on their part that this might be a real fire situation.
It has been determined that people leave a building the way in which they have entered the building. This became very obvious during this fire alarm. An obvious example of our lack of fire awareness is that many people leaving the second and third floors did not use the proper exit. Eighty percent of the students exiting these floors used the central stairway.
This glass enclosed stairway is not designated as an exit. This stairway could act as a flume in the event of a real fire, and students could become entrapped either by smoke or fire. The designated exits, in case of fire, are the four corner stairways; but these exits were not utilized by the students.
It is somewhat ironic that the following Friday edition of the Cigar, the front page article was about fire safety, false alarms and the need to inform the university on the proper fire procedures. It became quite obvious in the Library during that Thursday's exercise, there is a need to heighten awareness of this on our campus.
It seemed that the students' priority was slowly packing up and saving a laptop or continuing to study. Both of these reactions are understandable, but I believe we should be aware of what to do in an emergency.
In September, not our busiest month, the gate count of persons using the library was 69,905. The library faculty and staff will feel more secure and be more reassured if we thought our patrons knew what to do if there ever was a real emergency situation.
David C. Maslyn
Dean of University Libraries