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 Don’t let dreams go up in smoke By Trey Reckling It is a timeless creature with simple needs: food, heat and oxygen. It grows at an astounding rate, with the ability to double in size every minute. It kills 5,300 people in the United States every year and injures another 29,000. Ask people to name an attention-getting four-letter word, and it may not be the first to come to mind, but “FIRE” has a lot of power. Used as an exclamation, it consistently gets the attention of people within earshot. Although an effective word, few people ever want to hear it in that context. In the United States there are 2.4 million reported fires a year. Still, that number is thought to be low since a majority of house fires go unreported. According to www.safehome.com, there are an estimated 13 million fires a year. Families put out nearly 92 percent of all small house fires. Still, the cost in human life is staggering. In this country alone, fire consistently kills more people annually than all natural disasters combined. In fact, at 13.5 deaths per million people, the United States has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world, according to a 2003 report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Considering the statistics and the danger that it poses, one would think that being trained on how to put out a fire would be a mandatory part of a student’s education. Sadly, the first time many people have the opportunity to use a fire extinguisher is when it matters most and the risk is greatest. The Savannah College of Art and Design is offering a safety opportunity to students in a unique and technically innovative style. Stop by the Oglethorpe House ballroom, 201 W. Oglethorpe Ave., March 30, 9 a.m - 5 p.m. SCAD Physical Resources, Koorsen Fire Service and Ansul Inc. will conduct simulated fire training using state-of-the-art computer technology. To see an example of this technology, go to www.ansul.com/Training/Fire_Simulator.asp. Bring a rechargeable fire extinguisher from home for inspection, and recharge it for $12. Fire extinguishers will be for sale at the event for $28. This event is free and open to all members of the SCAD community. For more information regarding fire training and safety, contact Helen Morgan at (912) 525-8009 or hmorgan@scad.edu. Reckling is the college’s ombudsman. |
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