(b) Should be free of corrosion (c) Wet piping systems should not be permitted to freeze. (d) Air pressures on dry lines should be checked often. (e) Cases or other articles should not be stored near sprinkler heads. 2 Standpipe and hose. (a) Where the use of the fire hose might impede free safe pupil evacuation such use should be delayed until the pupils are out of the area involved. (b) Hose should be dried after use and then re-hung. (c) Water leaking from the lines into the hose may cause the hose to rot. (d) Hose should be attached, nozzle should be open-ready for use. 3. Fire extinguishers. (a) Should be checked often to see if in place and ready for use. (d) Extinguisher exhaust tubes should be checked often to determine (e) Foam or scda-acid extinguishers that have been upset should be refilled. (f) Fire extinguishers should be cared for and used as per the manufacturer's instruction. XVII. Programs for School Fire Safety They SCHOOL FIRE SAFETY PROGRAMS do not just happen. must be planned, and the responsibility for operation must be fixed. Successful programs must have public support. Obviously the primary purposes of such programs are to eliminate school fire hazards and to reduce school fire life and property losses. Such programs should be cooperative 1. All school personnel should participate. (a) Area of participation should be outlined for all school employees. (b) Student groups should have a part in the program. 2. The local community should have a part in the program. Parent-teacher and other groups can help sustain interest, and can cooperate in reducing congestion and activity hazards arising from community use of the building. 3. The local fire department should be given an opportunity to assist in the program. They can point out certain fire hazards, check extinguishers and alarm systems, and advise on evacuation procedures. 4. The local school officials should be responsible for program organization, supervision, and success. Extent of program 1 The program should have continuity. (a) Sporadic or special drives have some value in exciting interest. (b) It is the day to day continuing programs that are most effective in preventing the growth of fire hazards. 2 The program should cover all of the school plant and all of the activities in it. (a) It should include inspections. (b) It should cover operating practices that might create hazards. (c) It should include specific organized instruction in safety at all grade levels. (d) It should cover evacuation procedures. 3. Fire safety should begin with the planning of the building and carry through to its abandonment as school property Organization of the program 1 Goals should be defined. One of the goals should be to develop an awareness of the importance of fire safety and a continued alertness to fire hazards. 2 Leadership should be developed or assigned. (a) In each school or building there should be some one person charged with the responsibility of promoting and directing the program. (b) Other group, squad, or area leaders may direct sections of the program. 3. Reports should be required. (a) Leaders should report periodically in writing to the administrative officer in charge of inspections made, conditions found, and recommendations. (b) All school employees, even if having no special safety assignment, should report on hazards found. (c) Arrangements should be made for periodic reports to the staff, the school and to the public on the fire risk involved in the building and its use. The State also has a responsibility in fire safety 1. State code regulations should be limited to general safety provisions 2 State departments of education have an obligation. They— (a) Should provide advisory service on fire safety in planning new buildings. (b) Should provide assistance in remodeling old buildings. (c) Should provide course of study materials, and arrange to provide preservice and inservice training in safety for teachers and custodians. (d) Should advise on safe operational practices. 3. A qualified State agency should have the authority to prevent the use of buildings which are hazardous for school purposes. School officials should endeavor to maintain fire-safe conditions in their buildings. Buildings should be so planned that they do not provide many fire hazards. All school employees should be required to become familiar with some common school-fire hazards. These employees should be responsible for assisting in maintaining safe conditions. The total responsibility for fire safety in school buildingsmust be shared by all people who have any part in authorizing, planning, or directing the school system. Bibliography Fires and How To Prevent Them. Fire Prevention BOSWELL, B. HODGKIN. -The Dallas Civilian Club in cooperation with the Dallas Fire Department NATIONAL BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS. Are School Drills a Farce in Your School? New York, The Board. -Self-Inspection Blanks. New York, The Board. Fire Protection as Applied to the Public and Parochial Schools. New York, The Board, 1935. Construction of School Buildings and Improvement of Existing Structures. New York, The Board, 1937. Protection of Openings in Walls and Partitions. New York. The Board, 1939. First-Aid Fire Appliances. New York, The Board, 1948. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SAFETY EDUCATION. Fire Safety for Teachers of Primary Grades. Washington, D. C., National Education Association, 1950. 24 p. (Fire Safety Series No. 1.) Fire Safety for Teachers of Intermediate Grades. Washington, D. C., National Education Association, 1950. 32 p. (Fire Safety Series No. 2.) NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION. National Electric Code. Boston, Mass., The Association. 416 p. Building Exits Code. Boston, Mass., The Association. 1950. (11th Edition.) Protection of Records. Boston, Mass., The Association, 1947. 63 p. School Fires. Boston, Mass., The Association. 1946. 48 p. OFFICE OF EDUCATION. A Curriculum Guide to Fire Safety. Washington, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1946. (Federal Security Agency. Office of Education, Bulletin No. 8.) 31 p. PUBLIC BUILDINGS ADMINISTRATION. Manual of Fire Loss Prevention of the Federal Fire Council. Public Buildings Administration, U. S. General Services Administration. (Second Edition) Washington, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945. 162 p. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FIRE-PREVENTION EDUCATION. The President's Conference on Fire Prevention, May 1947. 29 p. VILES, N. E. The Custodian at Work. New York, University Publishing Co., 1941. 391 p. School Fire Drills. Washington, U. S. Government Printing Office, 1948. Federal Security Agency, Office of Education, Pamphlet No. 103) |