Health and Safety, First Aid, and Fire Alarms

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Everyone has a duty to themselves and their flatmates to ensure that health and safety guidelines are followed, especially with regard to fire safety.

Cranborne House

In any emergency situation contact the Halls Supervisor, Resident Welfare Advisoror Security at once.

You can also use a fire break glass if the automated system has not come on (perhaps because smoke has not triggered heat detectors in bedrooms and kitchens).

• In an emergency or first aid situation, Security staff and the Halls Supervisor have been trained to deal with such situations so contact them at once.
• Familiarise yourself with the fire alarm evacuation procedures in your room. In Cranborne House there is a two stage system. If you hear a loud rapid tone in your wing evacuate immediately. If you hear an intermittent tone this tells you that an alarm is occurring in another wing and you should prepare to evacuate if the tone changes to a rapid loud tone.
• Ensure that all flatmates are evacuating but do not wait for them.
• Use the stairs and not the lifts.
• Never assume it is a false alarm, the next one just may be a real fire.
• In the event of fire we do not recommend that you try to tackle a blaze unless you are confident in knowing what you are doing and know which type of extinguisher to use. Your own safety comes first so if in doubt concentrate on raising the alarm (if necessary) and evacuating. If you do use a fire extinguisher remember to ask for it to be refilled.
• Never tamper with detectors, move or let off fire extinguishers, or prop open fire doors. Any person or persons found doing this will be dealt with severely under the Disciplinary Code. Failure to evacuate is also a serious offence because it endangers personnel who have to check the building and delays an all clear being given in a false alarm situation, during which time a real fire may be breaking out elsewhere. Anyone discovered or strongly suspected of deliberately setting off fire alarms will be fined and evicted and referred to the University for possible further action.

Hurn House

Most of the guidelines shown for Cranborne House apply in Hurn House but, because of the different fire alarm system and staffing you need to note the following variations:

• In an emergency or for first aid contact the first floor office (behind the Laundry). If unattended ring the mobile number displayed or contact Studland House reception
• The fire alarm is a standard system which means that you must immediately evacuate all parts of the building when you hear the alarm bells ring.

Student Village

Because the Village consists of self contained houses each house has a fire alarm system installed.

Leave the house and contact Poole House Reception if the alarm sounds.

Should the alarm panel display show as 'fault' please report this immediately to the accommodation office or Poole House Reception.

They also have mains operated smoke detectors in the hallways and long-life battery operated smoke detectors in the bedrooms.

• In an emergency out of office hours contact either Poole House reception (01202 965001 or 65001 from your room phone or dial 999 (if appropriate). During office hours you may also consider contacting the Accommodation Service or Medical Centre in Talbot House.
• For first aid, contact Poole House reception.
• You should respect fire safety equipment such as extinguishers, fire blankets, smoke detectors and fire doors. Serious disciplinary action will taken against anyone tampering with these items.

Meningitis

This disease has received heavy publicity relating to Universities in the past.

Statistically, young adults are more at risk than many other groups but less so than children.

There has also been shown to be a slightly higher risk amongst those attending Universities and the military.

Although the risks of any individual contracting the disease are very small, it is important to be vigilant during your stay in Halls.

Educational material will be made available and should be read.

• Look out for your friends, especially if they are semi-conscious
• No vaccine gives complete protection so do not be complacent
• Although technically contagious, the disease does not survive well outside the body and so the risks of passing it on are slight.

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