• Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Login
Campus Rec Magazine
  • Sections
    • Columns
    • Facility Development
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
    • Rec of the Month
    • Staff Development
    • Well-being
    • Profiles
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Education
    • CR Leadership Summit
    • CR Base Camp
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
  • Sections
    • Columns
    • Facility Development
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
    • Rec of the Month
    • Staff Development
    • Well-being
    • Profiles
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Education
    • CR Leadership Summit
    • CR Base Camp
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Buyer’s Guide
No Result
View All Result
Campus Rec Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Best Practices for Fire Emergency Protocols

Bobby Dyer by Bobby Dyer
December 12, 2017
in News, Operations
0
fire emergency
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

There are many components to a successful campus recreation department, from the equipment to the staff to the design of the facility. But what is often overlooked are the safety features and protocols of the facility, particularly those for a fire emergency.

Fire hazards are all over the place and can cause serious damage if not accounted for by the rec center staff. Therefore, it’s important to have the right protocols in place in the event of a fire emergency.

Campus Rec spoke with Kim Clark, the director of campus recreation at the University of Houston, about the importance of fire emergency safety protocols and how to implement those strategies:

CR: What protocols do you have in place for fire emergencies?

KC: We have basic protocols in place including the locations of fire extinguishers throughout the facility and how to use them, as well as an evacuation plan. The evacuation plan breaks down responsibilities by staff position. Each position then has specific responsibilities and a section of the building for which they are responsible for evacuating and clearing during a fire evacuation. Emergency exits and evacuation routes, as well as areas of safe refuge, are identified that can be used for participants who are disabled and may need assistance evacuating. The plan also includes designated locations where participants are to be directed once they have exited the facility as well as a rally point for all staff to meet to ensure that all are safe and accounted. The plan also includes actions to be taken once an all clear has been given by campus police and the fire department before participants may re-enter the facility.

CR: Are there any challenges in implementing safety protocols?

KC: Ensuring that staff “buy in” to the value of safety first, always. It is not a question of “if” but “when” an emergency will occur, and we must be proactive and not only have emergency plans in place, but review them, practice implementing them, and then evaluate and modify them as necessary to ensure all staff are prepared to implement the plan when an emergency occurs. Complacency is not an option.

CR: How do you educate your staff on these procedures?

KC: Education begins as part of the onboarding process for all incoming staff. The Emergency Action Plan is provided to and reviewed with new staff. The department also has a risk management committee which is comprised of the program director from each respective area. The committee contributes to reviewing and modifying the emergency action plan annually, planning and implementing trainings, covering monthly in-service safety topics, setting inspection schedules and documentation procedures, as well as identifying and addressing other risk management issues.

CR: How do you educate students on these procedures?

KC: Education begins as part of the onboarding orientation process for all incoming student staff. All staff are presented with the Emergency Action Plan, quizzed on the information, and then participate in an emergency drill as part of the training process. Education and training then continues throughout the year with a combination of periodic departmental risk management trainings, monthly in-service safety topics and Red Manikin Drills which provide an opportunity for student staff to participate in a simulated emergency in which they must implement the emergency action plan while being evaluated.

CR: Do you have any advice for other campus rec departments?

KC: Safety and risk management is integral to all we do within campus recreation and dictates we are diligent in our efforts. Develop a comprehensive emergency action plan, review and update it on a regular cycle, train and re-enforce safety training with all staff, and provide opportunities to practice implementation of the plan to help staff build competence and confidence when responding in emergency situations.

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Tags: campus reccampus recreationEmergency Action PlanEmergency planningFacilitiesfeaturedfire suppression systemoperationsRisk Managementsafety
Previous Post

Precor Launches the SpinnerChrono Power Bike

Next Post

What I Learned from Black Ice

Bobby Dyer

Bobby Dyer

Bobby is a former staff writer at Peake Media.

Related Posts

Seven Best Practices for AI Prompt Engineering
Columns

Seven Best Practices for AI Prompt Engineering

June 17, 2025
How USF St. Petersburg is Advancing Sustainable Campus Transportation with Student-Led Initiatives
Operations

How USF St. Petersburg is Advancing Sustainable Campus Transportation with Student-Led Initiatives

April 24, 2025
ai in campus rec
Columns

The AI Imperative: Why, Now and How to Responsibly Use AI in Campus Rec

April 15, 2025
hiring for group fitness programs
Columns

Spring Into Success: How to Streamline Hiring for Group Fitness Programs

March 25, 2025
capital planning
Operations

5 Capital Planning Pitfalls to Avoid

March 19, 2025
hazing
Operations

Prevent Hazing in Campus Recreation

March 19, 2025
Next Post
Black ice

What I Learned from Black Ice

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Updates in your inbox

Stay up to date on industry trends, best practices, news and more.

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
Campus Rec Logo

The premier business resource for college and university recreation centers.

The Current Issue

May/June 2025

May/June 2025

Browse

  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • E-Newsletter
  • Podcast
  • Media Kit
  • Contact

© 2025 Campus Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Sections
    • Columns
    • Facility Development
    • News
    • Operations
    • Programming
    • Rec of the Month
    • Staff Development
    • Well-being
    • Profiles
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • E-Newsletter
    • Contact Us
  • On-Demand
  • Supplier Insights
    • Brand Voice
    • Supplier News
    • Supplier Voice
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Education
    • CR Leadership Summit
    • CR Base Camp
    • Pickleball Innovators
  • Buyer’s Guide

© 2025 Campus Rec Magazine. Published by Peake Media.