When living in an environment like a residence hall or an apartment, people have to be careful all the time. One of the most important aspects of that is fire safety.

The American Society of Safety Engineers recommends that all residence halls and fraternity and sorority houses be periodically evaluated for effective safety features and systems.

“We have two fire drills a semester,” said Linda Tillis, associate director of Student Housing and Dining Services. “We pull the alarm boxes everywhere to make sure they work every semester.”

The buildings are under code, Tillis said. “Everything is above code and checked regularly.”

There also are sprinklers in the areas where they are needed. Smoke alarms and the fire alarm system are always upgraded. They are checked by the Department of Environment Health and Safety.

If students see or smell fire while in the residence halls, the best thing for them to do is to call 911 and pull the alarm system to alert the residents, said DeKalb Fire Chief Peter Polarek. There are two exits on every floor. The exit signs are the key things to look for.

If a student is unable to leave his or her room, it is best for that person to keep the door closed and to inform the police that he or she is trapped.

There are important safety measures to take when using fire, Polarek said.

“Don’t have an open flame [in the residence hall],” Polarek said. “Refrain from using candles or any kind of open flame under any circumstance. There is no need for it.”

It’s also important to remember that everything around could be flammable, including furniture and curtains, Polarek said.

Also make sure that smoke detectors work in sleeping areas. Testing should be done every six months.