FlashPoint: A Firestorm of Fun is coming to the Colorado State University campus this week. It is a series of engaging and interactive learning events related to fire and life safety geared towards students.
Housing and Dining Services’ Office of Fire and Life Safety have partnered with the Residence Hall Association and the Poudre Fire Authority to help raise fire awareness among the students on Colorado State University’s campus. They hope that students become more educated on fire safety and carry that with them when they are off campus.
“CSU has done a great job of creating a culture of sustainability and HDS would like to be a part of the movement that generates a ‘culture of safety’ here at CSU,” said Veronica Olivas, HDS safety coordinator.
A component of student safety encompasses an awareness of your environment and the people around you. HDS came up with the slogan: Be you. Be Aware. Be a SafeRam!
In an effort to use multiple venues to bring public attention to the topic of safety, Olivas, PFA Chief Tom Demint and Campus Fire Watch, a national organization, successfully petitioned Gov. John Hickenlooper to proclaim the month of September 2015 in Colorado as “Campus Fire Safety Month.”
“FlashPoint Week” is seven days of interactive activities on campus directed for the CSU audience in hopes to become a signature event that gets better every year.
Flash Point
On Monday, Oct. 5, there will be a cooperative game of fire rescue hosted in the Durrell Lobby from 7 to 10 p.m. This game will challenge strategy skills, and requires students to work as a team. The game illustrates how quickly a fire can grow and the unpredictability of fire patterns and behaviors in a fun and interactive game
Search ’N’ Rescue Challenge
On Oct. 6 and Oct. 9 the Poudre Fire Authority is bringing its Fire Safety Trailer, which offers a stimulating experience in a smoke-filled room in which students maneuver through and retrieve objects. The PFA will also be providing bunker gear for students to try on. This activity will use theatrical smoke, and all participants will be under supervision when in the room.
Pop-Up Movie Night
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Pavilion and Thursday, Oct. 8, at the Newsom Event Center, from 7 to 10 p.m. students can throw on their pajamas, bring a pillow and a friend and watch a movie on a cool fall evening. Popcorn will be provided as well as “pop-up” fire facts and jokes all students can learn from and enjoy.
Sensor Adventure
Michael Durkin worked closely with Jenn Rieskamp from SLICE to recruit 25 volunteers to work with PFA in installing and testing smoke detectors in a senior community area. Although this event is full, it is a great way to market the program, as PFA holds this event at least once a year.
Forensic Mystery Challenge
Sunday is fun day, and fun it will be. On Oct. 11 from 11 to 3 p.m. at the Durrell Center, this Clue-styled scavenger hunt will have students working together to solve a fire mystery case. There will be five stations located around HDS that hold clues about who started the fire. Students will read a “police report” and several “witness statements” while having the opportunity to view and handle real articles from fires.
This week is a fun and interactive way to teach students about fire safety. Housing and Dining Services hopes that students attend and learn more about fire safety other than stop, drop, and roll.
