If your child is living in the dorms, there is reasonable assurance that fire codes and drills are in place. A parent can be assured that sorority and fraternity houses have safety measures in place, too.
But off-campus housing? Hear me out.
Our daughter, who was in her junior year, elected to move a mile or so outside of town, away from the main campus.
"But, Mom, it's going to be so cool. I'll be living with my friends in a house!" she announced after she had signed the lease with seven other girls.
During sophomore year, she and her "sisters" (sorority speak) were in a stately BRICK house built on campus in the 1920s.
They were now living in a WOOD house built in the 1940s. As the premises are not under the direct auspices of campus housing, my husband and I were adamant about a few safety issues.
We urged our daughter to check whether there are any fire extinguishers in the house, specifically in the kitchen and bedrooms. Does every hallway have a smoke alarm? Every bedroom have a fire extinguisher? Does everyone on the second floor have rope escape ladders that can be easily thrown over window sills?
How about carbon monoxide detectors?
Next came "The Emergency Drill":
Be sure to practice emergency drills.
Know what to do and where to meet.
See that big tree in the front yard? Suggest they designate that as the meeting place.
I followed up on the conversation with my daughter in an email.
Mom: "Please confirm that you have gotten smoke detectors and fire extinguishers for the kitchen, and that everyone has an extinguisher in their bedroom. Be sure you have all practiced a fire drill and that everyone knows how to get out of the house and where to meet. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!" (The multiple exclamation points made me feel like I was young again.)
Daughter: "Okay, Mom. Will check to see if we have an extinguisher in the house. I don't think we do."
Mom: "Be sure to check."
I tried to appear calm from afar. What I really wanted to write in huge bold caps with yellow highlight is, "DO IT NOW!" And what I wanted to add: "Do you have a 24-hour Home Depot nearby? It's not out of my way (more like five hours) to bring up smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and rope ladders myself in the morning. Okay with your roomies if I declare an early Parents' Weekend?")
The following afternoon, my daughter sent an email with an attachment: "Here's a photo of our new kitchen fire extinguisher."
And there it was: a big bold red sign on their yellow kitchen wall with an arrow pointing down to the fire extinguisher. My daughter also attached a photo of a new extinguisher in the corner near her (very) messy pile of laundry. (I've learned to leave that topic alone.)
I sent off a quick text. (Note: Varying the communication medium keeps their interest. I try to bounce from email to text to DM to occasional phone calls.)
Mom: "Great!!! Thanks for the swift action."
Daughter: "K"
Mom: "K2. ("K2" means we were on the same page, which is a beautiful thing when you are the parent of a college student.)
Now, ladies and gentlemen, let the learning begin.
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Photo by Chris Karidis on Unsplash