Red Cross Fire Prevention Tips for College Students and Their Parents

Following Wednesday's fire at 85 Bromfield St., in a Somerville neighborhood near Tufts University that is home to a student population, the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts issued the following tips about fire preparedness for college students and their parents.

Here's what the Red Cross sent:

Red Cross tips for sending your child to college

School is almost in session, and that means many college students will be out on their own for the first time. Disaster can strike anywhere, including neighborhoods where students live. We want your students to stay safe.

"We hope everyone is ready for a healthy, productive school year, knowing what to do if there is an emergency," said Jarrett Barrios, CEO of the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts.

The Red Cross has created the following checklist of items to send with your students to school:

• Fire extinguisher
• Flashlight
• Exit plan – How to get out of a residence in times of emergency
• Electronic copies of personal information (contact info, prescriptions, etc)
• A plan to contact parents if there is an emergency at school/home

When you’re moving your child in on Sept. 1, look around: Do you see the following?

• Smoke detector
• Carbon monoxide detector
• Batteries in said detectors

More information on fire safety is available here: www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/home-fire