Prevention Fires In Healthcare Facilities

Any fire, no matter how large or small, is dangerous in healthcare facilities. They put patients at greater risk of injury, they risk doing serious damage to expensive and specialized equipment that’s difficult to replace, and they may spread more rapidly due to increased oxygen in the area. However, taking time to prepare for fires can not only keep both your employees and your patients safe, but it can even prevent fires in the first place.

Is There Anything I Can Do to Prevent Fires?

Healthcare centers, regardless of their size, are complex institutions, and there are ample opportunities for fires to break out if you’re not careful. While there’s no singular approach to preventing fires in your business, you must follow your accrediting agency’s guidelines, and always consider the following three common dangers.

• To begin, regularly check any electrical outlets and wiring to make sure that they’re up to code. Split cords or cracked cables risk catching fire if they are overloaded, presenting a threat to both your healthcare professionals and your patients alike.
• Similarly, do not allow any smoking near any oxygen-rich environments or near oxygen-dispensers; while smoking is dangerous for many patients already, oxygen causes fires to burn faster, which increases the risk they present.
• You can also prevent fires by closely monitoring kitchens in your establishment, which are more of a fire hazard than other areas of your operation. Cleaning out grills and safely storing oils and other flammable liquids makes your entire healthcare business safer.

What Should I Do in the Event of a Fire?

In the event of a fire, it’s important to have an emergency action plan in place so that staff is ready to respond accordingly. An action plan helps prioritize actions to keep patients safe. This may involve rescuing patients that are at risk, calmly evacuating the building, containing fires by closing off passageways, keeping critical care equipment operational, or extinguishing small fires.

The best course of action to keep the fire contained and to keep people safe may vary depending on your business, so it’s a good idea to seek consultation with professionals when putting together your action plan.

Another step to prepare for fires is to appoint a fire safety officer for your healthcare operation. This person should be trained regularly to recognize fire hazards and to check fire extinguishers to make sure they’re up to code. This fire safety officer may also be in charge of leading a team of employees during emergencies.

Because fires are chaotic and unpredictable, this officer and their team must be able to provide leadership to other staff members or patients during fires. It may also be wise to regularly practice emergency exercises with staff to ensure that all employees are ready for fires.

How Can I Avoid Fires in the Future?

While training staff and routinely checking safety equipment can certainly decrease the risk of fires, more intensive preparations involve complying with the relevant regulations and meeting accrediting agency requirements. Being aware of these requirements helps, but there’s no substitute for professional help. Cultivating a relationship with an expert fire disaster prevention and restoration contractor can give you the edge you need to stay safe from fires. After all, they have the experience, equipment, and knowledge you need to prepare for any disaster.

So, if you’re looking to prepare against fires in your healthcare operation, consider what we can offer you here at Alpha Omega Disaster Restoration. We offer priority disaster response service 24 hours a day, year-round. We also offer pre-planning aid to ready your establishment for fires, as well as inspections and estimates.

Our professional and certified staff can help you restore your healthcare business from fire damage, as well as prepare for fires in the future. We operate out of south-central Montana in Billinngs, Billings West End, Billings Heights, Laurel, Red Lodge. Contact us today, and let us know what we can do to help you.