Free eLearning Courses Demo for Fire Prevention in Healthcare Facilities
Fires have been a useful tool for humanity since we learned to control them. They have provided warmth, cooked our food, and created light when it was dark. But when fires get out of control, they can be devastatingly destructive to property and lethal to people.
Every year in the U.S., more than a million fire emergencies are reported, over 5,000 of them in healthcare facilities. These fires cause injuries, deaths, and over $45 million dollars in damage. Therefore, it is important to understand the three ingredients that a fire needs to burn: fuel, oxygen, and heat.
Fuel is any material that will burn. Fuels can include combustible solids such as wood, paper, cardboard, and some metals, flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline, isopropyl alcohol, and some cleaning and disinfectant solutions, and ignitable gases such as propane and anesthetic gases.
Next, a fire must be in an environment where there is oxygen that it can “breathe”. The more oxygen a fire has, the better it will burn, which is why “fanning” a fire makes it flare up. In a healthcare facility, potential sources of ignition can include a smoldering cigarette butt, an overloaded electrical circuit, or a coffeepot on a cluttered desk.
Once a fire has started, it will continue to burn as long as there is fuel and oxygen to feed it. Left to itself, it will burn bigger and hotter until it gets out of control. However, when you remove any one of these ingredients, the fire goes out. To put out most fires, you apply some type of “retardant”, like water, baking soda, or sand, that will reduce its heat or deprive it of fuel or oxygen. But not all fires are alike.
Depending on the types of materials that are burning and where the fire is located, using the wrong fire retardant can make a bad situation even worse. For example, water does a great job of putting out a fire in a pile of cardboard. But if you pour water on burning liquids, it will spread the fire further. Since water conducts electricity, somebody could get electrocuted if you use it on a fire that is burning in or around any electrical equipment.
To make it easier to distinguish between different types of fires and determine what substances should be used to extinguish them, fires have been divided into “classes”. Class A fires involve everyday solid combustibles like paper and wood and can be extinguished with water. Class B fires involve flammable gases, liquids, and some plastics and are usually extinguished by applying chemical foams. Fires fueled by materials such as isopropyl alcohol, cleaning supplies, disinfectants, and anesthetic gases that are commonly used in healthcare facilities are all Class B fires.
Class C fires involve electricity and can occur in medical equipment, light fixtures, fuse boxes, electrical wiring, and receptacles. These are fought by smothering them with “nonconductive” substances, which deprives them of oxygen. Class D fires involve combustible metals and can be dangerous to extinguish. You’re not likely to encounter a Class D fire in a healthcare environment, but don’t attempt to put one out yourself if you do.
When a fire occurs, you need to respond quickly and effectively. Your employer has developed an “Emergency Action Plan” to help everyone in your facility prepare for such an incident. The plan discusses how to report a fire, who should fight a fire, how to ensure patient safety, and more.
It can be tough to think clearly when the fire alarm bell rings. Emergencies can be confusing as well as frightening. You can prepare yourself by reviewing your company’s emergency action plan and familiarizing yourself with the procedures and protocols outlined in it. By doing so, you will be better equipped to respond quickly and effectively in the event of a fire emergency.
Remember that in a healthcare facility, patients are the top priority. In the event of a fire emergency, the first step is to rescue patients and get them out of harm’s way. Once patients are safe, activate the fire alarm and call 911. Next, make sure the fire is contained and does not spread to other areas of the facility. Closing doors and shutting down the ventilation system can help prevent the spread of smoke and toxic gases.
Only once these steps have been taken should you attempt to extinguish the fire, and only if you have been properly trained in the use of fire extinguishers. In some cases, it may be best to leave firefighting to the professionals and focus on evacuating patients and staff to a safe location.
Evacuation procedures will vary depending on the facility, but it’s important to remain calm and follow the designated evacuation routes. Patients who are able to walk should be directed to the nearest exit, while those who are unable to move should be defended in place or moved to a safe refuge location.
In addition to knowing how to respond in the event of a fire emergency, it’s also important to take steps to prevent fires from starting in the first place. Good housekeeping practices, such as keeping work areas clean and free of clutter, can help reduce the risk of fire. Careless smoking should be strictly prohibited, and flammable and combustible materials should be stored, used, and disposed of properly.
Finally, be sure to inspect all electrical equipment before use, and report any damage or signs of wear to your supervisor immediately. Overloaded electrical circuits can be a common fire hazard, so make sure to avoid using power strips or multi-plug adapters and ensure that extension cords are rated for the amount of power they will carry.
By being aware of potential fire hazards, knowing how to respond in the event of a fire emergency, and taking steps to prevent fires from starting, you can help keep yourself and others safe in a healthcare facility. Remember, fire prevention is everyone’s responsibility.
Are you a healthcare facility looking to ensure the safety of your staff and patients? Look no further than “Fire Prevention in Healthcare Facilities” training products. With over a million fire emergencies reported each year in the U.S. and thousands of them taking place in healthcare environments, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of fire prevention and emergency procedures.
Our products cover a wide range of topics, including how fires burn, the most common classes of fires, patient safety and evacuation procedures, fire hazards in healthcare environments, and controlling electrical hazards. Whether you prefer micro-learning courses or full-length online courses, our interactive materials will keep your employees engaged and involved in the learning process.
We understand that time is of the essence, which is why our online courses incorporate remediation training. This means that if an employee misses a question on a quiz, they are presented with the course content that explains the topic again. This ensures that training time is reduced, and courses are much more efficient and effective.
Our safety courses cover over 170 topics, including regulatory compliance, human resource topics, and general safety topics. Our courses are designed to make it easy for managers to monitor their employees’ progress with tracking and recorded test scores.
Investing in “Fire Prevention in Healthcare Facilities” training products means investing in the safety and wellbeing of your staff and patients. Don’t wait until it’s too late, enroll today!
