I am sure that many have heard about the house fire that killed 6 South Carolina students and one from Clemson (7 total).
Inside Edition did a piece on students living in houses (MANY students living in one house, not usre iif teh were Greek houses). I was in shock to see how students living in houses lived and that the old houses that many live in are unsafe due to wiring and overloaded extension cords and outlets. One house had several smoke detectors where the batteries were removed. I can see that one, it beeps when it has to be replaced, easier just to remove the battery. Was an eye opener for me, that's for sure
I remember my husband lived in a frat house that was so old, one match could have ended it.
Posts: 10723 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
Very tragic, there was a father who was on the news and he did not know his daughter, who was killed, was even at the coast. I could not imagine what I would do...
Posts: 992 | Location: CA | Registered: March 12, 2003
It's another very tragic story--does it seem like there have been way too many lately, or is it just my imagination? Or am I just getting too old and realizing, again, that "There, but for the grace of God, go I"....?
May they rest in peace. And may their families and friends feel God's loving arms around them.
And don't forget this weekend, when you change your clocks, please change your batteries (in the smoke detectors).
Posts: 1841 | Location: Cook County | Registered: June 07, 2005
Playbaseball- I do not like to disagree with you, but I have never really agreed with that quote. We do not know who holds God's grace - I would like to think all of us do, and those that lost their lives will find themselves in God's loving arms.
On another note, my son told me this weekend that in his state-of-the-art brand new dorms there was a fire 2 floors above him. However, due to the excellent fire awareness systems - sprinklers were activated immediately , and aside from everything getting wet, everyone was out and safe. A candle in a double room started the smoke which activated the sprinklers. (Candles are not allowed.)
Tragic loss of life, in the above story. I pray for those lost in the fire and their families.
Posts: 864 | Location: nor cali | Registered: September 03, 2007
Face it, many college age students are somewhat oblivious to things that can hurt them. That feeling of invincibility, it'll happen to someone else but not me, mom and dad are scardy cats.... Add in a lack of common sense gained through experience, plus the call of the wild (for some anyway) who are now away from mom and dad's watchful eye, and the door is opened for some potentially bad situations.
My freshman year someone in my dorm went away for the weekend and left a clunky old window fan running. Drapes got pulled into the fan blades, fan overheated and started a fire. Could have been very bad except that the room was at the very end of the top floor so everyone was able to get out.
Looking back on the fraternity house I lived in for my last two years at school it's amazing there wasn't a disaster there. Ridiculously bad wiring (done by college students that didn't have a clue), cooking and smoking in the rooms, and on and on.
Somebody else has to tell me what the solution is though, cause I don't have one. When my kids get to college, as long as I'm writing checks I'll feel like I still deserve to be nosy. But if I mention something to them that I don't like will they listen? I guess a lot of that has to do with how I've built a relationship with them for their first 18 years.
Posts: 392 | Location: Georgia | Registered: May 26, 2005
very sad & indeed a tragedy prayers for those involved
the points re worrying about kids safe living conditions are well taken ... but in this unusual situation how many red flags would'a been raised about a weekend at the beach on the ICW in a million++$ beach house with friends
Nokia is soon releasing cell phones with smoke detector capability a bunch of them going off likely would'a changed outcomes
Posts: 3616 | Location: NE Ohio | Registered: December 27, 2002
One of the victims was from here in NE Ohio and her father was unaware his daughter was at the house initially. Cannot imagine how these families are coping right now.
Originally posted by Bee>: very sad & indeed a tragedy prayers for those involved
the points re worrying about kids safe living conditions are well taken ... but in this unusual situation how many red flags would'a been raised about a weekend at the beach on the ICW in a million++$ beach house with friends
Nokia is soon releasing cell phones with smoke detector capability a bunch of them going off likely would'a changed outcomes
Probably no red flags, but just a good story on student living conditions.
When son went off to school, a huge list of NO's for the dorms, no candles, no high intensity lighting, no cooking in dorms without kitchens. That's why they have cafeterias and kitchen centers in dorms.
They showed this one house with poor wiring, it was scary, dryers without ventilation. I agree, if I am writing the checks, you better know I want to know where you are going to live and you better know I want to know where you are headed for the weekend.
Posts: 10723 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom: I am sure that many have heard about the house fire that killed 6 South Carolina students and one from Clemson (7 total).
Inside Edition did a piece on students living in houses (MANY students living in one house, not usre iif teh were Greek houses)......
Was the house that caught fire a "student" home or a weekend beach rental?
***************************** "Hey dad.......wanna have a catch?"
Posts: 2742 | Location: NE Ohio | Registered: January 10, 2004
In the mid 1980's a frat house caught on fire at UNC CH - it was gradustion weekend, and Mother's Day. Needless to say, NC now how strong laws regarding sprinklers/fire safety in student housing. This was a vacation home, and from what I've read, they think the fire started on the second story deck.
Extremely sad story. Kids just don't think!
Posts: 371 | Location: north carolina | Registered: January 08, 2007
Originally posted by Homerun04: An article I read, it was one of the student's family's vacation house.
Thanks. I was confused by all the dorm/frat/apt housing stories and couldn't figure out how USC and Clemson kids were sharing housing. It's tragic regardless.
***************************** "Hey dad.......wanna have a catch?"
Posts: 2742 | Location: NE Ohio | Registered: January 10, 2004
The fire had nothing to do with student housing. The fire happened in Ocean Isle Beach NC & was owned by the parents of one of the survivors. The house was very nice, the fire alarms did work but the fire was so intense & spread so quickly that the sleeping students had very little time to get out. Ocean Isle Beach NC is approx 175 miles from Columbia & approx 300 miles from Clemson. Some of the victims were friends of my niece. God bless their families.
Parents - Do not assume your child is safe in off campus housing. Dormitories are, for the most part, just fine, as the universities exercise a great deal of responsibility over the safety of students on campus.
However, do visit your son or daughter's off campus living quarters. Make sure there are working smoke detectors on each level and outside the sleeping areas on each level. Make sure there are also opeerating smoke detectors in each and every sleeping room. Finally, make sure that there are windows or doors in each sleeping room in order that a student can safely exit the room, in case of fire. If you have any doubts about the safety of the living arrangements, call the local code official and ask they meet you to inspect the premises.
Be sure to caution your child about candles, space heaters, and smoking material. Be sure to furnish a fire extinguisher in the kitchen area ands caution them about grease fires and how to prevent them.
"The doctors X-rayed my head and found nothing." --Baseball great Dizzy Dean explaining how he felt after being hit on the head by a ball in the 1934 World Series
Posts: 248 | Location: Nashville! | Registered: January 07, 2003
prayers for those involved
