hospital fire safety training.

1. HOSPITAL FIRE SAFETY
M. A. SATTAR ANSARI ( FIRE OFFICER)

2. OVERVIEW
Healthcare facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes normally see a
continuous flow of people.
Almost all of them operate on a 24×7 basis.
Hospitals are not only required to take care of patients but must ensure that
their safety is firstly prioritized.
Fire accidents at healthcare facilities should not force anyone to run for their
life.

3. DIFFENETION
Fire safety:
• Fire is most dangerous and occurrence accidents, so all staff
must know what is the fire and how preventing and
controlling measures are to be taken.
Fire Definition:
• It is the heat and light which are formed by chemical reaction
between vapor of combustible materials with oxygen in
suitable amount of heat.
Definition of Flash Point
• It is a minimum degree of heat at which flammable materials
form vapor combined with oxygen can ignite by any flame.

4. Fire Elements:
Combustible Materials:
• Solid matters like wood, papers, textiles, plastics, metals.
• Liquids like petroleum liquids, Oils, mineral acids and blood.
• Gases like petroleum gases, natural gas.
Oxygen:
• Air contain 21% oxygen and until ratio 16% enough for ignition.
• Oxidizers like H2o2, KMno4.
• Oxygen Cylinders.
Sources of Heat:
• Sun.
• Flame.
• Hot surfaces.
• Spark.
• Friction.
• Electricity.
• Some Chemical reactions.
Chain of Chemical Reaction
• Presence of three elements in equivalent ratio which cause reaction be continuously
go on.

5. Three components interact to create a fire.
Fuel
• is any combustible material that can be used as the source of ignition of
the fire, as well as to keep it burning.
Oxygen
• is an oxidizing agent that reacts with the fuel to start and continue the fire.
• Lower concentrations of oxygen result in slower fuel combustion.
Heat:
• Fires require oxygen and fuel reacting with each other at a temperature
exceeding a threshold temperature, referred to as the “flash point.”
• Different materials and chemicals have different flash points, some at low
temperatures and some high.
• The lower the flash point temperature of a compound, the more easily the
compound ignites.

6. Classes of Fire
Class A:
•Wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastic.
•solids that are not metals.
Class B:
•Flammable liquid gasoline, oil, grease, acetone.
•Includes flammable gases.
Class C:
•Electrical—energized electrical equipment.
•As long as it’s “plugged in.”
Class D:
•Metals—potassium, sodium, aluminum, magnesium. Requires Metal-X, foam, and other special extinguishing agents.
Class K:
•kitchen oils, deep fat fryers, and others.
•Recently recognized by NFPA 10.
•Fires involving combustible vegetable or animal non-saturated cooking fats in commercial cooking equipment.

7. Potential Fire
Hazards in
hospitals
Medical and surgical equipment
Hospital kitchens
Overused sockets and cables
Smoking

8. The Four Principles
of Fire Safety were
created to help
make fire safety in
hospitals simple.
Life Safety
Notification
Extinguish
Relocate/Evacuate

9. Life Safety
As with any emergency, the priority is to protect both ourselves
and those around us.
In the event of a fire, hospital employees should aid patients in
their vicinity.
First, the hospital employee will search for any obstacles, such
as an oxygen tank, that may need to be disconnected or
removed in order to move the patient.
If the patient is ambulatory, they will be guided to a safer
location.
If a patient is unable to move on their own, the employee might
transport their bed or employ an emergency carry.

10. Notification
It is also important to let others know about the emergency.
Effective communication and quick alerts can ultimately save lives and minimize
damage in the hospital.
Notification of the fire situation could take many forms.
The closest fire alarm should be pulled, and the 24-hour hospital emergency telephone
line should be called so that the fire department and first responders are notified.
Additionally, many hospitals rely on a verbal warning called “code red”.
This warns hospital employees in a discreet way so that they can start taking action
before panic spreads among patients and visitors.

11. Extinguish
Whether or not a hospital employee should take steps to
extinguish the fire depends on a few factors, including how
large the fire is and whether they are trained to use a fire
extinguisher.
If the fire is small, if it can be extinguished in a quick and safe
manner, or if a life is in immediate danger, an employee may
try to extinguish it themselves.
However, if the employee is untrained on fire extinguisher use,
if the fire is spreading quickly, or if it is unsafe to remain in the
area due to smoke or heat, it’s best to wait until first
responders arrive.

12. Relocate/Evacuate
Moving to a safer location is also an important component of fire
safety.
Sometimes, this involves evacuating the building completely, while
other times it is best to move to a different wing, floor, or
department.
Ideally, hospital employees should try to move themselves and their
patients through at least one set of fire doors.
To avoid the chaos of overcrowded hallways, hospital employees will
develop an evacuation priority order so that those in immediate
danger can be moved to safer place( Assembly point).

13. Health care
personnel
should be
trained and
drilled in:
Fire prevention.
Location and use of fire alarms.
Location and use of fire extinguishers.
Location of emergency exits.
Evacuation procedures.

14. Fixed
Systems

15. Fire Hose Reel
Open valve ( ensure that hose reel is turned off at
nozzle)
Run out hose towards spot of fire
Open nozzle and direct stream at base of fire
Usually connected to main water system but not
the canvas reels that are used by the fire brigade

16. Sprinkler System
A high-pressure sprinkler
system can reduce the impact
of a fire — and without
requiering much water.
In fact, they’re reported to
reduce injuries by up to 80%
and reduce property damage
by up to 90%.

18. TYPES OF FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS
Water extinguishers
Foam extinguishers
CO2 extinguishers
Dry Powder extinguishers
Wet Chemical Extinguishers

20. Action in the Event of Fire or Smoke in a
Hospital
•Remove people from the immediate area if safe to do so;
•Alert switch (dial emergency no.) or the Fire Brigade (break glass alarm);
•Contain if practicable, close the doors & windows; but make sure no one left
behind and DON'T LOCK the door also.
•Extinguish use appropriate fire-fighting equipment but do not take risks.
•Evacuate to a safe area if and when directed to do so, ensuring that you can
account for everybody under your care.
R
A
C
E

22. How to use Fire Extinguisher?
•This unlocks the operating lever and allows you to discharge the extinguisher.
•Some extinguishers have other devices that prevent inadvertent operation.
•Point the extinguisher nozzle (or hose) at the base of the fire.
•This discharges the extinguishing agent.
•Releasing the lever will stop the discharge.
•Some extinguishers have a button that you press.
•Moving carefully toward the fire, keep the extinguisher aimed at the base of
the fire and sweep back and forth until the flames appear to be out.
•Watch the fire area. If the fire re-ignites, repeat the process.
P – PULL the pin out:
A – AIM low:
S – SQUEEZE the lever
below the handle:
S – SWEEP from side
to side:

23. Before You
Fight a Fire
Everyone else has left and someone’s calling
the fire department.
The fire is small, confined, and not
spreading.
You have an unobstructed escape route.
Your extinguisher is right for the fire.
You know how to use the extinguisher.

24. RULES FOR
FIREFIGHTING
The final rule is to always
position yourself with an exit
or means of escape at your
back before you attempt to
use an extinguisher to put
out a fire.
In case the extinguisher
malfunctions, or something
unexpected happens, you
need to be able to get out
quickly. You don’t want to
become trapped.

25. Fire &
Smoke
CODE RED
The presence of smoke or fire is a CODE
RED.
If you discover a CODE RED you should:
• Remain calm;
• Dial the hospital emergency number 1500 and
state:
• there is a CODE RED
• The exact location
In the event of a fire in a hospital you are
to follow R.A.C.E

26. Evacuation CODE ORANGE
Stage 1:
•Remove people from the immediate danger, outside the room, or into an
adjoining room and for example in the case of a fire, isolating the fire by
closing the door.
Stage 2:
•Remove people from outside the involved room into another safe
adjoining fire compartment, either horizontally away from the fire
through the smoke/fire doors, or vertically to another level/floor below
the fire.
Stage 3:
•Remove people from the building to a pre-determined safe assembly area
dependent on the size of the facility.

27. Priority of Evacuation
•Who can evacuate themselves and can be directed to a safe area.
•Can also assist semi- ambulant patients;
First Ambulant Patients and Visitors:
•who may be suffering ailments, which cause them to be slow movers; they must be assisted out of danger;
Second – semi ambulant patients:
•who are totally reliant upon rescuers to remove them from danger;
Third – non ambulant patients
•These are the type who may put the rescuer at risk.
Fourth – violent aggressive or resistive patients.

28. Mandatory for all employee to know
RACE and PASS
procedures.
Location of
nearest Fire
Extinguisher
.
Location of
nearest Fire
call point.
Location of
nearest
Assembly point.
Location of
nearest Fire
Exit door.
Location of
n
e
a
r
e
s
t fire
stair ways.
Location of
nearest
Evacuation Map.
Location of
nearest Medical
Gas Valves

29. What is a fire exit?
Lead directly as possible to a safe place, such as outside or into a protected stairwell.
Be quick and easy to open and never locked or fastened in a way that prevents an
immediate evacuation.
Open in the direction of escape.
Not be a sliding or revolving door.
Be clearly labelled with fire safety signs.
Be kept clear of obstructions and flammable materials.

30. Fire Safety Signs for
Assembly Points
A assembly point is a location where
staff and visitors can gather in the
event of a fire to ensure everyone is
in a designated safe area.
Assembly point signs help you
make sure that people will know
where to gather following an
emergency evacuation.

32. THANK YOU