8 Characteristics of Fire Safety Training in Healthcare Facilities

Much like any other institution, a healthcare facility has to train its staff in regards to fire safety. This article presents some of the characteristics of fire safety training in hospitals and it outlines the most important aspects of this type of training.

• Fire safety training for hospital includes the practice of fire drills, which are mandatory for all staff members. Fire drills occur on an unannounced basis and they should be performed at least once a year in all non-patient areas, and every three months in patient areas.

• During fire safety training, the medical personnel will also learn about the fire alarm system their hospital is equipped with. The alarm system goes off either when it senses smoke or if someone pulls the manual alarm. Manual pull alarms are red, so that they are visible to everybody, and are located on every floor of the facility. The alarm system also includes sprinklers that go off when they sense heat.

• In case a fire starts, the alarm will start ringing on the respective floor, as well as on the floor situated immediately above and below, thus warning people who are in immediate danger. What is more, hospitals come equipped with flashing visuals alarms, in order to help warn the hearing impaired.

• During fire safety training, the medical personnel are instructed on the proper way of evacuating patients and visitors. Medical personnel have to take special care in handling patients, because these people are already sick or injured.

• There are two types of evacuation that can be performed within a hospital: lateral and vertical. Lateral evacuation implies getting all occupants out through fire exits or doors on the same floor where the fire started. Vertical evacuation refers to evacuating personnel and patients on a different floor than the one where the fire started. In any case, the patients that are nearest the fire should be evacuated first.

• When passing through areas where there is smoke and/or fire, remember to keep as low to the ground as possible. Also, it would be advisable to wrap patients in wet blankets and keep their face and yours covered, in order to avoid smoke inhalation.

• Medical staff is also instructed to close doors, unplug electrical equipment, and remove combustible items away from fire. Performing these actions will ensure that the fire will not spread or become uncontrollable.

• Whenever confronted with a fire, medical staff is urged to retain the acronym RACE. R stands for rescuing all those in danger, A for turning on the alarm, C for confining the fire and calling security or emergency contact, and E either for extinguishing the fire, if it is a small one, or evacuate, if it is too big.

Fire safety training is especially important for medical personnel because healthcare facilities are usually packed with people and any fire could have potentially deadly outcomes. Fire safety training performed in hospitals does not differ much from the one in other types of institutions, but there are some particularities that have to be taken into account.

This news article is brought to you by REMODELING - where latest news are our top priority.