According to a report by the National Fire Protection Association, more than 70 percent of schools in the United States fail to provide adequate fire protection for students. The association tallied a national average of 8,200 fires annually, resulting in 186 injuries, 4 deaths and direct property loss of $100 million.
For its part, the State of Illinois has been aggressive in school fire safety, having recently passed into law a measure requiring fire sprinklers in all new school construction. In Chicago, City Hall has stepped up its school fire-safety program by closing down older sites and replacing them with fire-safe buildings.
Despite these important advancements, school fire remains an all too common occurrence.
As parents, we must ensure that our children are safe in school. Ask the teacher, the principal or the local school board about the school’s fire-safety program. Do the children practice escape routes? How often are the batteries checked in the smoke detectors? Are pull-alarms nearby? Are the classrooms equipped with fire sprinklers?
When it comes to fire safety, our schools can’t afford to fail.
