Accidents happen, but most accidents are preventable. Especially in college dormitories.
I’m sure by now, everyone on campus has gone through the required fire and storm drills, especially after that tornado warning we had the first week of classes. But accidents can still happen in and outside of our dormitories.
According to Case IQ, one of the most common campus hazards is fire hazards. “Each year approximately, 8 people die in campus fires in the US.” Overloaded power strips and outlets were the main cause. Having almost everything plugged in at the same time from one outlet can cause it to short-circuit and start a fire. The second cause listed is clutter, which can block fire exits or catch fire when too close to hot or electrical devices.
The last fire hazard listed is kitchen fires. Whether it be a burnt steak or the stove being left on, accidents in the kitchen are one of the most common as there are so many different ones that can occur.
When microwaving anything, make sure to never microwave anything in a metal, styrofoam, or a glass bowl. If either is microwaved, it will cause a fire, explosion, or breaking. Also, when microwaving, always be sure that there is water in any instant noodles. It seems like something you couldn’t forget about, but it can happen, and it will cause the noodles to catch fire.
Whenever you are cooking something on the stove, make sure to never leave it unsupervised. If what you’re cooking overboils, it could cause enough smoke to trigger the fire alarm.
Another fire hazard not mentioned by the article involves laundry. The most common mistake when doing this chore is not taking the lint out of the lint trap in the dryer. Sure, it can seem like something small, and you wouldn’t think that it could cause anything, but when lint culminates enough, it can cause the lint to catch fire. So, whenever you’re doing laundry, make sure to always empty the lint trap, no matter the amount of lint inside.
One more common accident listed by Case IQ to be aware of is lab accidents. Laboratory accidents are almost as diverse as kitchen accidents. Even though labs are under the supervision of a professor, accidents can still occur. For those of us who have had a lab, we’ve all seen those scary shower things in the laboratory, but they have a purpose.
In slightly less terrifying circumstances, improperly stored or trashed broken glass and equipment can injure you and other students around you. Whenever in a lab, always make sure to take the proper precautions to prevent accidents like chemical burns, injuries from broken equipment/glass, or any other miscellaneous hazards.
Now, I didn’t go over every single little thing that could cause you and/or others injury here on campus, but always make sure to take proper precautions and preventions for you and those around you.
