Day 85 - Fire safety madness
Yesterday was a long day and I got home pretty late. Then a couple hours after that, around 3am, I was woken up by some loud people. So I was hoping to sleep in this morning. Didn't happen. First the cleaning lady knocks on my door and wakes me up early. Then shortly after trying to sleep again, I hear the fire alarm.I got up, got dressed, and walked down 7 flights of stairs. But a few seconds before I could get outside, a lady started blocking the door. She asked us for our room numbers and told us (us meaning myself and about 7 other people, all from our top floor) that it was a fire drill and we didn't get down in time. I later heard someone say that people get fined £50 (about $90) for failing a fire drill. I sure hope that's not true. If it is I'll try to protest it. Half the people on the 6th floor, and everyone who was in the shower at the time, getting excessive fines because they were 5 seconds late? That's ridiculous.
But it wouldn't surprise me. This school is totally nuts about fire safety. Upon arriving, we had to read 2 small books regarding fire safety and attend mandatory fire safety seminars. Some of the normal things that students have in dorms in America (mini refrigerators, for example) are not allowed because of the strict fire codes. If we plan to have a guest in our room for more than a specified amount of time, we have to alert the manager and fill out forms, again because of the fire code. We're not allowed to take a shower with the bathroom door open (in an en-suite room) because the steam may interfere with the smoke detectors. Safety is always good, but doesn't this seem like a bit too much?
Is it a symptom of a government that's too big/powerful (or overzealous?), or is it just because of this particular university's past problems with fires? I don't know. But it makes me really miss living in my own house where I can sleep and wake up whenever I want, own a refrigerator, invite people over at any time without having to fill out forms, and take a shower with the door open. And I can even yank out my smoke detectors whenever I feel like it, especially if the battery is low and they're making that annoying chirping sound.
2 Comments:
Fire safety is good, Matt!!! As an architect, I'll forever seek to enforce safe building practices. however, as a person of moderate means, I'll have to question the fine. *shrug*
That's interesting that they shut you in, though. Isn't that contrary to the point of a drill... to get out? Seems a bit excessive.
If even one life is saved by all of these codes, drills, and fines, then it will all have been worth it... or so the argument goes.
Personally, I don't think that's a helpful way to look at it. Everything involves risks, and most people are willing to accept a certain amount of risk in order to live their lives. After all, there would likely be fewer auto-related deaths if no car or train was able to move faster than 30mph... but the cost would be high indeed.
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