Editorial: Take responsibility for nightclub safety

 

Nightclub fire in Brazil kills hundreds on January 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Agencia RBS)

The recent nightclub fire in Brazil that claimed nearly 240 lives provides a grim reminder of safety shortfalls that continue to plague these settings. While this venue was an example of a facility not adhering to standard safety protocols, nightclub goers should be mindful of their surroundings and leave immediately if something doesn't seem right, argues a recent editorial in The Daily Iowan.

The editorial offers a lesson not just applicable to Iowans: the city, it states, should do "everything in its power" to make sure these establishments are code compliant, but it's up to the patrons to be aware of their surroundings and avoid oversized crowds.

"Business owners and city officials alone...cannot complete the job of preventing nightclub fires. We also need help from the bar patrons themselves," states the editorial. "If a place seems overcrowded, get out."

Learn more about nightclub fires and NFPA's tips on staying safe at these settings.