Is the coaching or library your child goes to safe? After the Lucknow accident, every parent must do 7 safety checks by going to their child’s coaching today itself.
Coaching Fire Safety Checklist: About 15 children died in a massive fire that broke out in a library and coaching center named ‘Learning Space’ in Aliganj area of Lucknow on Monday afternoon. After this accident, the biggest question that came before the parents is how safe is the coaching or library where your child goes to study? Nowadays, in the narrow streets of big and small cities, basements and rooms without ventilation have been completely packed and gleaming ‘AC libraries’ and coaching centers have been opened. Most of the parents focus on studies, fees and results, but miss safety. After the tragic fire in Lucknow, questions have started being raised again. In such a situation, parents should immediately go to their child’s coaching center or library and check 7 things for themselves…
1. Entry and exit route
Most of the coaching centers and libraries are running in basements or narrow streets. Go there and check whether the entry and exit routes are the same? If yes, then it is dangerous. In case of any emergency, children can get trapped if there is a stampede. It is very important to have an emergency exit (emergency gate).
2. What is the basement being used for?
If your child’s classroom or library is in the basement, as a rule, the basement may only be used for parking or storage. It is illegal and dangerous to keep children there. Check if there is any danger of water logging or short circuit in the basement?
3. How wide are the stairs and gallery?
In many coaching classes, 100 to 200 children study in each batch. When there is a holiday, everyone goes out together. You go and check that the stairs should be wide enough so that two-three people can comfortably move together. If the stairs are very narrow or there is stuff kept there, then immediately talk to the coaching management.
4. Fire extinguishing arrangements (Fire Safety)
Just hanging a red cylinder (fire extinguisher) on the wall does not provide safety. Find out whether that cylinder is in working condition? What is its expiry date? Most importantly, do the staff or children there know how to operate it? Also, are there smoke detectors installed?
5. Network of electrical wires
Dozens of ACs, computers and lights run in the coaching and library, which puts a lot of load on electricity. In such a situation, check whether there are any open electrical wires roaming there? Is the main switch board or generator located where children can easily touch it? The fitting of the wires should be correct so that there is no risk of short circuit.
6. Proper arrangement of ventilation
In many coaching classes, more children are seated in a small room than the capacity. In such a situation, check that if for some reason the AC stops or there is a power cut, is there any way (window or skylight) for outside air and light to come into that room? Suffocation can make children sick.
7. Do they have government permission?
Every coaching institute has to obtain ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) from the fire department and local administration. Ask the management clearly whether they have NOC for fire safety? This is your right as a responsible parent.