Student Safety
Emergency: Call 911 or (434) 395-2019
All Students
Fire Drills
Residential Housing Fire Drills
Residential Housing Fire Drills have 4 Drills (2 per semester) conducted annually as required by the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code at various times of day or night.
- Know your primary and secondary exits as indicated on your room “Evacuation Map”.
- Everyone must leave the property and proceed to the designated “Assembly Area” or “Area of Rescue”.
Academic Property Fire Drills
- Academic Property Fire Drills are scheduled early in the Fall Semester, normally within the last 5 minutes of the standard class schedule.
- Know your primary and secondary exits as indicated on the building “Evacuation Map”.
- Everyone must leave the property and proceed to the designated “Assembly Area” or “Area of Rescue”.
Non-Academic Property Fire Drills
- Non-Academic Property Fire Drills are conducted annually.
- Know your primary and secondary exits as indicated on the building “Evacuation Map”.
- Everyone must leave the property and proceed to the designated “Assembly Area” or “Area of Rescue”.
Emergency Egress Maps -
- Located in resident rooms and at all exit stairwells and exit doors. Please familiarize yourself with these as they can be life-saving in the event of an actual emergency.
- Emergency Egress Maps provide primary and secondary evacuation routes, assembly areas, area of rescue, emergency shelter locations as well as the locations of emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers and AEDs.
Additional information can be found on our Building Evacuation Information page.
Annual Tornado and Earthquake Drills
- Tornado and Earthquake drills are typically conducted annually in conjunction with the Virginia Statewide drills.
- Tornado drills are conducted in the spring of each year. All personnel are to go to the designated ‘Severe Weather Shelter” area. These areas are typically located at the lowest and most interior area away from windows.
- Earthquake drills are conducted in the fall of each year. All personnel should immediately get under a sturdy piece of furniture such as a desk or stand in a doorway so as the structure can protect you from falling debris.
- Staying Safe in Places of Public Assembly - Places of Public Assembly
Residential Students
- Residential Building Fire Drills
- 4 Fire Drills (2 per semester) will be conducted annually as required by Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code.
- at varying times of the day or night.
- Know your primary and secondary exit routes
Fire Extinguishers
ABC fire extinguishers are located throughout all properties at Longwood University and are inspected monthly. These extinguishers can be used on virtually any type of fire with the exception of grease fires in commercial kitchens which require the use of class “K” extinguishers.
When using a portable fire extinguisher remember the PASS acronym:
- Point
- Aim
- Squeeze
- Sweep
Hands-on fire extinguisher training is available for groups of 10 or more. Please contact the EH&S office to schedule.
Fire Alarms
Fire alarm systems are made up of smoke detectors, heat detectors, horns, speakers, pull stations and remote annunciators (located at main entrance doors).
- IT IS ILLEGAL TO TAMPER WITH ANY OF THESE COMPONENTS OTHER THAN TO ACTIVATE THE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM BY USE OF A PULL STATION IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE.
Sprinkler Systems
All university owned student housing properties are equipped with quick response sprinkler suppression systems.
- DO NOT TAMPER WITH OR HANG/SUSPEND ANYTHING FROM SPRINKLER HEADS OR THEIR PIPING IN RESIDENT ROOMS, HALLS, COMMON AREAS OR STAIRWELLS.
Items Prohibited in Campus Residence Halls
Locked Bathroom Doors policy
Cooking on Campus
- Kitchen Fire Demo
- Do not leave the kitchen when cooking
Room Inspections
- A representative of the Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office can inspect university owned residential properties without prior notice. The officer will be accompanied by an EH&S employee. Entrants will have identification, knock on the door twice and announce themselves prior to entry.
- RCL team members are required to conduct monthly fire safety inspections. These inspections include a visual inspection of fire safety equipment and identification of any fire hazards within residential rooms.
Commuter Housing
Rental properties in the Farmville area typically are only provided with localized room smoke detectors. These types of smoke detectors will not summons the fire department.
Escape Plans
- Make a plan for how you would get out if the normal exit wasn't available.
- Tips from the NFPA - Home Escape Planning
Smoke Alarms
- Required to be provided by the landlord
- Press the test button monthly to make sure it will work when you need it.
- When it starts beeping every couple of minutes, or fails to beep when tested, replace the battery.
Fire Extinguishers
- Required to be provided by the landlord
- Typically an ABC dry chemical extinguisher that throws a white powder on the base of the fire to smother it.
- Use the PASS acronym to remember how to use a fire extinguisher
- Pull
- Aim
- Squeeze
- Sweep
Hands-on fire extinguisher training is available for groups of 10 or more. Please contact the EH&S office for scheduling.
Carbon Monoxide Detector
- If your rental burns fossil fuel (propane, heating oil) or wood for heat or cooking, a Carbon Monoxide Detector should be installed to protect you from this invisible and odorless gas.