Kids have been learning about fire safety since kindergarten. Now that your child is heading off to college, make sure he’s schooled in how to protect himself on campus.

 

Cooking is the leading cause of the nearly 3,800 dorm fires that occur each year. The best prevention is simply not to cook in the room, of course. If that’s not practical, adhere to all housing regulations for cooking appliances, and unplug an appliance when it’s not being used. For extra safety, keep an accessible fire extinguisher in the room—and make sure your child knows how to use it.

 

Overloaded electrical circuits are another common culprit in dorm fires. For prevention, limit the use of extension cords, stick to recommended wattages, choose a certified and surge-protected power strip, never run cords or wires under carpets or heavy items, don’t bunch cords behind a hot appliance, and never secure cords with staples or tacks. While packing for school, check all electrical cords to make sure they’re not worn or frayed.

 

It’s important your child understands he should take all fire alarms seriously, and quickly evacuate the building—no matter the time of day. It’s smart for kids to plan at least two escape routes from their rooms, which you can do together on move-in day.

 

Finally, remind your college student of those basics learned long ago: Never exit a door that feels hot, close a door immediately if smoke pours in when it’s opened, stay low to avoid smoke inhalation, and never re-enter a burning building.