In December, to effectively enhance campus safety awareness among students and improve their capabilities in fire prevention and emergency response, the International Exchange Center (International School) of East China University of Political Science and Law organised a fire safety-themed class meeting forall students, titled “Safeguarding Youth on Their ‘Flame’ Journey, Building aSafe Campus Together.” The session incorporated case studies, live demonstrations, hands-on drills, and legal explanations to ensure that fire safety education was meaningfully implemented.
Theclass meeting opened with recent, high-profile campus fire incidents, using striking statistics and real-life cases―such as a dormitory-wide blaze triggered by the unauthorized use of an electric water heater (“Re De Kuai”)and students being trapped due to fires caused by charging lithium batteries―tovividly illustrate the irreversible damage fires can inflict on lives, academic progress, and collective safety. On-site, student advisors demonstrated the differences between prohibited electrical appliances and compliant, CCC-certified power strips, stressing that “safety begins with every choice youmake about electricity.” They then facilitated group discussions and debates around scenarios like “Should you intervene if your roommate uses an unapproved space heater?” and “Is it acceptable to use candles for photos in the dorm?”―guiding students to abandon any sense of complacency or wishful thinking and to embrace a shared safety ethos: “Intervening is responsibility; reporting is protection.”
During the hands-on skills training segment, staff introduced the “Three Do’s and Three Don’ts” for escaping fires in high-rise dormitories: stay calm, protect yourself from smoke, and evacuate downward; never take the elevator, never delay evacuation for belongings, and never jump from windows impulsively. A live demonstration comparing dry and wet towels clearly illustrated effective smoke protection techniques, including crouching low while covering the nose and mouth, sealing door gaps to block smoke, and signaling for help from balconies. Students also watched a concise instructional video on using fire extinguishers―highlightingthe steps “Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep”―and were reminded of the key safety rule: small, initial-stage firesmay be tackled if safe to do so, but immediate evacuation is essential once the fire becomes uncontrollable.
The class meeting also incorporated key provisions from China’s Fire Control Law and the Regulations on Fire Safety Management in Institutions of Higher Education, clearly outlining students’ legal responsibilities regarding dormitory safety. All participants signed an on-site “Dormitory Fire Safety Pledge,” committing to: never use prohibited electrical appliances, always turn off power when leaving, keep evacuation routes unobstructed, and actively monitor and remind one another. In parallel, the school has established a daily dormitory self-inspection mechanism, encouraging students to proactively identify potential hazards and address them promptly. This initiative aims to foster a cultural shift―from passive compliance (“I’m told to be safe”) topersonal ownership (“I choose to be safe”)―cultivating a campus-wide mindset of shared responsibility for fire safety.
To effectively embed safety responsibilities into daily routines and ensure they reach the operational frontlines, the International Exchange Center (International School) recently conducted comprehensive, campus-wide safety inspections of student dormitories at both Songjiang and Changning campuses in collaboration with the University Security Office. Building on this effort, the International School has established a routine dormitory safety inspection mechanism. Full- and part-time international student advisors lead daily on-site checks of all student accommodations, focusing specifically onelectrical safety, occupancy verification, and orderliness of common areas.
The International School has always regarded student safety as the foundational priority of its educational mission. This class meeting was not only a session of knowledge dissemination but also a powerful call to personal and collective responsibility. Moving forward, the school will continue to strengthen the institutionalization and normalization of safety education, working hand in hand with all students to build a safe, harmonious, and inclusive global campus environment.
