College Dorm Safety Checklist

Moving your child into a college dorm can be a hectic time. In between the clutter and chaos, it can be too easy to overlook possible safety hazards. Most colleges are vigilant about safety, but it is always smart to check for yourself that you are leaving your child in a safe environment. Dorms have to comply with different regulations than privately-owned residences, and standards can also vary state by state. Here are some general guidelines for what I looked for when we brought our daughter to college this year.

Egress

A small dorm room

Any room used as sleeping quarters must have a window large enough for not only the occupants to escape, but also for a fully-outfitted firefighter to get in. Make sure there is no furniture blocking the window.

Smoke Detectors

Every room should have one of these.

Every room should have a functioning smoke detector. There should be either a steady “ready” light, or one that blinks occasionally. We do NOT recommend testing the alarm on your own, as it will likely be connected to a central monitoring station, and testing an individual unit would probably bring the fire department running.

Sprinklers

Most newer dorms have sprinkler systems.

Most new or renovated dorms will have automatic sprinkler systems. Older buildings may not yet be retrofitted.

Pull Stations and Fire Extinguishers

Pull stations should be easily accessible.

These should be located in easily-accessible areas throughout the building. You should be able to see one from every dorm door.

Fire-Rated Doors and Fire Exits

Dorm rooms should have self-closing doors that are rated to withstand fire damage longer than normal residential doors. Exterior fire exit doors should be clearly-marked, with illuminated signs leading to them. Hallways leading to fire doors should be kept clear of clutter. Make sure your child knows the location of every emergency exit; he or she should also know how many doors are between their room and any exit, since hallways can be shrouded with smoke during a fire.

Electrical Safety

Outlets in the dorm room should be tightly secured, so plugs stay firmly in place during use. Loose or wobby outlets should be reported immediately.

Bathrooms

These outlets can save lives.

Anywhere you have water and electricity in close proximity, all outlets should be protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interruption (GFCI). These special outlets are identified by either a “Test-Reset” button on the outlet, or a label.

Hot Water

Bring along an instant-read thermometer and test the temperature of the hot water. It should be 120 degrees or less. Anything higher than that is a burn hazard. If you don’t have a thermometer handy, you can get a rough idea by turning on the hot water and testing it with your hand: if you say “ouch” before ten seconds are up, it’s too hot.

Security

Exterior doors should be self-closing and self-locking. Access should be allowed only by code, key or key card.

What About Off-Campus Housing?

It is common for older students to move from a dorm to an apartment off-campus. A well-run apartment building will have most, if not all, of the safety features listed above. However, the temptation to save money may lead the student to seek a cheap alternative, such as a basement room in a shared house. Such rentals can be risky, especially with regards to fire safety. I have seen illegal basement apartments where the bedrooms are windowless, and the only egress was through a galley kitchen.

Some Last Advice

The best thing you can do for your child is to teach them to be aware of their surroundings. My daughter knows to look for smoke detectors anywhere she plans to sleep, and knows why egress windows are important. She knows that her college has “safety stations” throughout the campus, which she can use to summon help. She also knows that she is responsible for her own safety now, and we have given her the knowledge to do just that.

Dorm room all set up... Time for college to begin!