Fire Safety: Awareness Of Fire Risk Among Students At The Medical School Of The University Of Nairobi: A Preliminary Study

Background: The objective was to evaluate awareness of fire safety among medical students at the University of Nairobi Medical School.
Methods: A cross sectional survey by self-administered questionnaires was undertaken. All medical school students that come to the medical school campus of the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta National Hospital were eligible. The study took place in May 2002.
Results: Two hundred questionnaires were sent out with an 88% response rate. The mean age of respondents was 22.3 years with a male to female ratio of 1.2: 1. Of the respondents, 46.5% were accommodated in the halls of residence of the University of Nairobi while 94% felt there was risk of a fire outbreak with 71% indicating that they felt the risk was greatest from electrical appliances. Cookers, the majority of which were electrical but with some gas ones, were singled out as being a leading risk of fire within the halls of residence. A total of 59% indicated that the fire exits they were aware of were either locked or barred. 95% were not happy with this state of affairs.