The University of Houston’s Fire & Life Safety department recently conducted a General Fire Safety & Fire Extinguisher training for the Student Health Center and the attendees came away better prepared with fire safety knowledge and skills.
Deputy Fire Marshal Sara Alexander led the class, supported by Assistant Fire Marshal Marcus Hicks, Deputy Fire Marshal Ernest Johnson, and Fire Safety Technician Chris Barrientes. The training covered crucial fire safety information, fire extinguisher usage, and proper fire drill procedures.
During the fire safety segment, Alexander reviewed various types of fire extinguishers, their appropriate use, types of fires, evacuation protocols, and emergency contact procedures.
“There’s lot of different types of fire safety training. There’s a ton of information out there but we try to condense it for people who work at the university,” said Alexander. “And in the presentation, we have a couple of videos that show examples of different ways fires can happen and it covers different scenarios.”
Following the informational session, participants practiced using a fire extinguisher with Fire & Life Safety’s laser-driven fire extinguisher trainer. This device, the Bullseye Digital Fire Extinguisher Training System, features LED-driven digital flames that can be extinguished with an infrared-laser-driven fire extinguisher, simulating real-life extinguisher performance.
Utilizing the digital fire extinguisher provides trainees with a tactile experience of extinguishing a fire. Alexander mentioned that each session elicits strong reactions from attendees regarding the extinguisher's weight, pin removal, and ease of use.
“They’re just surprised at what it does and doesn’t do,” said Alexander. “And that’s why it’s so important to get fire extinguisher training or at least understand more about fire extinguishers because one doesn’t really know what it’s going to be like until you actually use it.”
Rasha Sidarous, Chief Pharmacist at the UH Campus Pharmacy, appreciated learning how to use the extinguisher and remarked on its heaviness.
“Training is everything,” said Sidarous. “When you train on something it become natural ... so this was very helpful for me.”
Among the information that stuck with her was, how fast a fire can start, the importance of knowing when to fight a fire, and when to exit.
Health Center Administrative Assistant Mary Gibson is no stranger to taking safety trainings. Gibson said her past safety trainings have helped her in past life situations.
For Gibson, her takeaway was how more comfortable she feels using a fire extinguisher.
“Watching the [fire extinguisher] video is nice, but actual hands on, there’s nothing that beats hands-on experience,” said Gibson.
Both Sidarous and Gibson concurred that fire safety training is vital for all university members. To request or attend a training session, visit Fire & Life Safety’s Training Information website.
