Beware of Fire! Fire! Fire!

An important safety announcement to anybody sending their kid/s to school

Students across the country are back on campus.

If your child lives in a dorm, sorority, or fraternity house, the institution has fire codes and drills. But let us now turn the page to discuss: off-campus housing.

During sophomore year, our daughter elected to move outside of town from the main campus of her upstate university. The ‘sisters’ (sorority speak) had initially lived in a stately on-campus BRICK house built in the 1920s. They were now living in an off-campus WOOD house built in the 1940s.

As most of these premises are not under the direct auspices of campus housing, my husband and I were adamant about a few critical safety issues.

We urged our daughter to check to see if there are:

• Fire extinguishers, specifically in the kitchen and the bedrooms. (*A fire extinguisher is a perfect back-to-school gift)

. Smoke alarms in every hallway.

• Rope fire escape ladders that can easily be thrown over window sills from the second floor.
• Carbon monoxide detectors

Next — The Emergency Drill

• Practice emergency drills. Know what to do and where to meet. See that big tree in the front yard? Suggest they designate that as the meeting place.

I followed up on the conversation in an email. Forget the “We miss you so much” or “The house is so quiet now that you’re gone” crap.

The message went like this:

Mom: “Please confirm that you have gotten smoke detectors and fire extinguishers for the kitchen, carbon monoxide detectors for the halls and that everyone has an extinguisher in their bedroom. Be sure you guys have all practiced a fire drill and that everyone knows how to get out of the house and where to meet. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!” (The multiple exclamation points made me feel young again.)

I tried to appear calm, but I really wanted to write in HUGE CAPS with a yellow highlight is, “DO IT NOW.”

I also wanted to write, “Do you have a 24-hour Lowe’s nearby? It’s not out of my way [yeah right, like five hours] to bring up smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and rope ladders myself in the morning.

Would it be okay with your roomies if I declare an early Parents’ Weekend?”

The following afternoon, my daughter sent an email with an attachment: “Here’s a photo of our new kitchen fire extinguisher.”

My daughter also sent a photo of a new extinguisher in the corner of her room, next to an extremely messy pile of laundry. (I’ve learned to leave that topic alone.)

I sent off a quick text. (Note: Varying the communication medium keeps their interest. I try to bounce from email to text to IM to occasional telephone calls.)

Mom: “Great. Thanks for the swift action.”

Daughter: “K”

Mom: “K2.”

“K2” means we were on the same page, which is a beautiful thing when you are the parent of a college student.

Read more of my writing:

Bonni Brodnick is author of POUND RIDGE PAST, a contributor to HuffPost, former editorial staffer at Condé Nast Glamour and House & Garden, scripts for Children’s Television Workshop, a weekly newspaper columnist, editor of two academic mags, and has a blog (bonnibrodnick.com). She is also a proud Stroke Survivor.

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