Fire Safety

Fire Safety Education

Xavier Police, Residence Life, and the Department of Environmental Health and Safety conduct a fire safety program for all residence halls within the first 4 weeks of the semester. This Program includes a short video on campus fire safety and a mock evacuation through a smoke filled hallway.

Residence Hall Fire Drills

Fire drills are held once a semester for each residence hall. Fire drills are mandatory supervised evacuations of a building for a fire. The fire drill is scheduled with the departments of Campus Police, Residence Life, and Environmental Health and Safety, the individual residence hall staff, and the local fire station. A supervised fire drill is scheduled at the beginning of the semester. Evacuation route maps are posted in each resident room showing where the closest egress route is and the assembly area outside. Students who fail to leave the building during a fire drill are fined and the incident is turned over to the residence life Judicial Coordinator.

Reporting a Fire

Students reporting a fire should contact Xavier University Police at ext. 1000 or 513-745-1000 from a cell or off-campus phone. If the fire event is no longer a danger, they should contact the hall director, assistant director or resident assistant to report the incident to Xavier University Police.

Getting Out

Feel the door handle.

• If the door handle is hot, don't open it.
• Go to a window and call for help.
• If the handle is not hot, open cautiously.
• Check for smoke or fire before going out.

Get out of the building before phoning for help.

• Don't take time to phone before leaving
• Get out and find a phone. (Use an E-phone.)

Pull the fire alarm on the way out.

• Don't look for other people or gather up your stuff.
• Knock on doors as you leave.
• Yell "FIRE" as you leave.
• Don't hesitate or stray from your path as you leave.

Crawl low to the floor.

• Thick smoke can make it impossible to see.
• Toxic chemicals from smoke can be deadly in minutes.

Close the door behind you.

• You may help keep the fire from spreading.
• You may protect your possessions from fire and smoke damage.

If you can't get out, get someone's attention.

• Yell and scream.
• Hang a sheet from the window.
• Stay low, there is less smoke and poisonous gasses close to the floor.

Once you're out stay out.

• You may be suffering from lack of oxygen.
• Effects include: decreased stamina and lack of coordination, impaired judgment, mental failure, fainting, unconsciousness, nausea, coma, and death.
• Another hazard is toxic gasses. Carbon Monoxide is a by product of fire. This gas can cause unconsciousness and death due to exposure.
• Fire can be fatal or cause debilitating burns.
• The structural integrity of the building can be affected during a fire. Ceiling and walls may collapse.