fire safety training...introduction due to the current covid19 outbreak we believe it is imperative...
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction
Due to the current COVID19 outbreak we believe it is imperative to maintain the safety of our staff and patients throughout the trust. Due
to this all Fire Safety Training is currently postponed until further notice.
However us; The Fire Team, are still available if you have any concerns or queries and can be
contacted on: [email protected]
Common Causes Of Fire Electrics - electrics conduct a lot of heat; laptops being left on beds, phone chargers being left on charge overnight, E-cigarette batteries. Using the wrong charger for appliance, daisy chaining or overloading plug sockets and adapters.
Smoking - smoking in non-designated smoking areas, smoking indoors, in bed, toilet cubicles, throwing cigarette ends in to bins without put them out properly. Where it is necessary to have contraband it is important to store this securely and ensure that high risk patients have the contraband collected back from them once they come back into the ward/department.
Cooking - leaving food unattended, microwave being left on for too long, wrong container used to reheat food or not having a knowledge on how to use the kitchen equipment.
Arson - The majority of fires within the trust are started deliberately.
Good Housekeeping
Keep all areas clean, tidy and free from clutter.
Do NOT block escape routes or fire exits.
Do NOT wedge doors open.
It is essential that break glass call points are visible and uncovered.
Look out for overloaded plug sockets or
frayed wires.
On hearing the alarm
Go to the fire panel.
Find out where the alarm is sounding.
Investigate, is it a real fire or False Alarm?
If it is NOT a fire and it is sounding by mistake phone 9999 and tell them:
Who you are.
Where you are.
What happened.
False Alarms
Fire Action Cards
Look out for the Action Cards in your area to inform you of what to do in the event of a fire.
What would you do if you discovered a fire?
Raise the alarm by breaking the call point this may be key operated
Only tackle a fire if it is safe to do so without taking personal risk?
Close doors and windows Only If safe to do so
Shout so that evacuation can begin
Call 9999 and tell them Who you are, Where you are, and What is happening - Inform the Fire Service if the evacuation involves COVID19 patients.
Fire Extinguishers Foam Extinguisher… To be used on textiles,
furniture, cardboard,
wood.
Co2 Extinguisher…
To be used on electrical fires.
Tackle the fire from the doorway so that you always have an exit. REMEMBER PASS: PULL out the pin. AIM at the fuel of
the fire. SQUEEZE the
handle SWEEP from side
to side
Two Types of Fire Alarm
Intermittent If the alarm is sounding intermittently then there is a fire alarm activation in the department adjacent, above or below and you need to prepare for evacuation. Send a staff member to check if there is a fire and see if they require assistance - if the adjacent department is a COVID19 area completely evacuate your department to make room for them to evacuate into.
Continuous If the alarm is continuous then the
activation is in your area. Get to the fire panel and check the area investigate to see if it is a real fire or not.
Who to Evacuate First? Evacuate the patients in immediate danger first followed the most ambulant as you’re saving the most amount of people in the least amount of time. Patients are PEEP’s risk assessed and are categorised on their level of risk being low, medium or high dependency.
What to do if a patient is refusing to leave? IF POSSIBLE :- Move them away from the fire, close the door to the room. Open a window to give them fresh air. Inform a senior member of staff and the fire service - Continue to move others. DO NOT PUT YOURSELF AT RISK
Progressive Horizontal Evacuation
• Move patients progressively from one compartment to the next.
• Initial through a set of Fire Doors to a zone with an intermittent sounding alarm or no alarm.
• Once all patients are through a set of Fire Door’s make ready to move them further away from the fire and nearer to the exits as possible.
• Eventually you may end up outside but you have to bare in mind the continuity of care for the patients. If it is possible to keep them inside, safe, warm and secure then this is the better option than moving patients outside. The buildings design should hold back a fire
• Never evacuate to above the fire compartment.
Evacuation with COVID19 • Firstly evacuate those in immediate danger through a
fire door.
• Those not diagnosed as COVID19 are to be evacuated first in the order of their PEEP’s assessment; low, medium and then high on to the next ward or department unaffected by fire. (This department may also need to evacuate to allow the COVID19 patients to evacuate here if the fire continues to develop).
• COVID19 patients are to be evacuated last to a safe zone, unaffected by fire, separate from other patients such as in a lobby or stairwell.
• Inform the Fire Service of the location of the COVID19 patients on their arrival or of anyone remaining.
Fire Doors Fire Doors will prevent a fire from spreading for a minimum of 30 minutes so the more doors you can close or evacuate through the better.
Inside the fire compartment
Outside the fire compartment
Once Outside • Handover the fire pack to the Fire Service.
• Tell the Fire Service the lay out of the area if possible, direct them on the plan as to where the fire is.
• Let them know the whereabouts of anyone left inside.
• Give them a key/access card if needed.
• Let them know of any hazards in the area such as any oxygen cylinders.
Additional Considerations due to COVID19
• Due to the unprecedented nature of COVID19 the trust may have significant staff shortages. Staff need to be proactive if the fire alarm sounds and not assume that security will be on their way.
• The Fire Service may also be short staffed due to staff self-isolations from COVID19. If it is a confirmed fire phone 999 as soon as possible.
• Preventing fires from starting and reducing any risk of fire spread is of utmost importance at this time. Report any concerns regarding fire doors, combustible being stored on means of escape, extinguishers and Fire alarms as soon as possible and be vigilant of any hazards.