Mastering the Four Essential Principles of Fire Safety is key in today’s safety-conscious world, whether in hospitals or elsewhere. This article details these four principles as an invaluable resource for effective fire safety – prioritizing lives.
At the same time, simultaneously, swift notification, extinguishment, and evacuation are vitally important aspects of proactive response to emergencies involving fire. Let’s learn these vital fundamentals to ensure that lives are protected, and overall security is ensured for all settings!
Fire hazards
In all likelihood, your home is full of hazards to fire. If you take the appropriate steps, disasters can be prevented. First, keep track of ignition sources, fuel, and oxygen.
Heating equipment, electrical appliances, cooking equipment, and naked flames are all potential sources of fire. The risk can be minimized by ensuring that all equipment is regularly maintained and serviced according to the manufacturer’s specifications by experts.
Also, they must be kept at a safe distance from objects that can cause fire, such as cardboard boxes, medical equipment aerosols, toiletries, chemicals for cleaning, and waste, so it is important to store them and use them according to the directions.
The primary source of oxygen is the air we breathe; however, it is important to ensure that the medical oxygen supply is controlled according to instructions.
People in danger
In the next step, you must determine who is most vulnerable. People who work night and day shifts, residents/patients, and visitors are more susceptible to being affected; however, remember temporary employees and contractors.
It is important to consider the specific needs of medical issues such as sensory awareness and mobility. In this regard, you might require professional assistance and discuss your needs with the person. Certain individuals may be able to be rescued on their own, but they will need longer, while others require assistance or even special equipment.
For those who are vulnerable, the staff will need evacuation training.
Evaluate and act
This is the time to think about and act, being aware of all relevant details.
For larger spaces, sprinkler systems may be needed for immediate fire protection; however, typically, the system will consist of fire blankets within kitchen areas and fire extinguishers close to the threat area.
Generally speaking, foam, water, and CO2 extinguishers will be the most appropriate, and powder is only appropriate for certain fire risks that have their own risk of health and safety evaluation.
Each extinguisher must also have an identification label placed over it. It is required upon installation and periodically maintained by a qualified professional.
Also, you’ll need suitable security for fire alarms, lights for emergencies, and signage throughout leading to the closest safe exit. They can ensure that even people unfamiliar with the building can quickly leave.
As for those fire doors, instead of closing them so that they can’t do their job, Install holders for your fire doors so that they remain open for easy access and close when there’s fire. Click here for more info!
Four Principles of Fire Safety
The Four Principles of Fire Safety were developed to ensure that hospitals have a safe environment for fire. The pillars should be executed in a variety of order as the checklist. The list can be a guideline or general action plan.
Sometimes, it’s safer to finish one before the other. In other instances, they could happen at the same time. Hospital staff will exercise their discretion to make informed choices based on the situation to keep everyone as safe as possible.
1. Life Safety
In any situation, the main priority is to ensure the safety of ourselves and the people who are around us.
If there is a fire, hospital staff must assist patients in their immediate vicinity. Hospital workers will check for obstructions like IVs or oxygen tanks that may require dismantling or removal before transferring a patient.
If the patient has become an ambulatory condition, they will be escorted to a safe area.
If a patient can’t walk independently, the worker could move their bed or use an emergency transport.
2. Notification
It is also crucial to inform others about the situation. Quick and efficient communication can make a difference and prevent damage to the hospital. The announcement of a fire emergency could come in a variety of types.
The nearest fire alarm should be activated, and the 24-hour emergency line for hospitals must be contacted to ensure firefighters and first responders are alerted. Furthermore, some hospitals use a verbal warning called “code red”.
The hospital staff are warned quietly to ensure that they are acting before panic spreads between patients and visitors.
3. Extinguish
Whether or not an employee of a hospital should do anything to put out the fire depends on several factors, including the fire’s size and whether they’re licensed to employ an extinguisher for fires.
If the fire is not too large and can be put out swiftly and securely, or if a life-threatening situation is imminent, the employees could attempt to do it by themselves.
Suppose the employee isn’t properly trained in the use of fire extinguishers. In that case, if the fire is rapidly spreading or is dangerous to remain in the vicinity due to flames or heat, it is best to stay away until the first emergency responders arrive.
4. Relocate/Evacuate
The move to a more secure area is also a crucial aspect of fire security. Sometimes, this requires removing the entire building, while at other times, it’s better to move to a new building, wing, floor, or department.
The ideal is for hospital personnel to attempt to get them and their patients through, at the very least, the fire door of one.
To keep the chaos out of crowded hallways, hospital employees must create an evacuation priority list to ensure that patients who are in immediate danger will be relocated to safety in the first place.
Although these rules were originally developed to serve the needs of hospitals, they apply to virtually every workplace or location. Taking the time now to learn about fire safety regulations is the best way to prepare for any eventuality.