The healthcare industry bears the onus of taking care of people’s health and life. It needs to ensure that the patients dependent upon it for their well-being are safe and away from all sorts of risks and dangers when they are on the premises of a healthcare organisation, including fire. While fire safety is important for all buildings, it is even more crucial for hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic centres and other such complexes since patients in critical condition may be vulnerable and unable to take care of themselves in the case of fire.
Why is fire safety training crucial for healthcare organisations?
Nowadays, many people are aware of the safety measures that should be taken in case of an emergency. However, patients admitted to healthcare organisations may be unable to take those safety measures as:
They may be unaware of their surroundings
They may have mobility issues
They may not know what to do in case of emergency
They may be dependent upon a ventilator machine
They may be unconscious
They may not be old enough to understand the situation
Therefore, a fire accident at a healthcare organisation can pose danger to the lives of a high number of people.
Additionally, hospitals may house chemicals, combustible substances, oxygen cylinders, a kitchen or canteen, etc., all of which can lead to fire outbreaks and allow the fire to spread quickly. This makes fire safety training all the more important for healthcare organisations.
How can healthcare facilities achieve fire safety?
Kitchens, canteens and laboratories should be monitored and not left unattended. Flammable liquids, like oils, and stove fuel should be stored well and regularly checked for any leakage. All the electrical cords in such areas should be specially checked for tears or frays. Extra portable fire extinguishers should be placed in such high-risk zones.
In addition to the electrical wires of the kitchen and lab, all the other electrical outlets and cords should be regularly checked. It should be ensured that all the cords and wires are away from flammable materials.
The complete staff, irrespective of their job role, should be trained well so that they are aware of safety procedures. Organisations like CAHO (the Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organisations) offer certification programmes for fire safety training for hospital staff. So, healthcare organisations should get their staff enrolled in such recognised courses and conduct mock drills to stay fully prepared.
Fire extinguishers’ location and condition should be checked regularly so that the faulty ones can be replaced in time. The volume of their content should also be checked to stay prepared at the time of emergency.
An action plan that includes the instructions for evacuation should be in place and the staff should be familiar with this action plan.
Regular meetings, vigilance monitoring and fire safety audit should be conducted to check whether the organisation can deal with a fire accident.
Conclusion
To ensure the complete health, safety and well-being of its patients, visitors and staff, healthcare organisations must keep in mind the above-mentioned points. Recognised courses, such as fire safety training for hospital staff, offered by CAHO can help the healthcare industry to achieve fire safety.
