This document discusses fire safety in long-term care facilities. It identifies potential causes of fires such as smoking, misuse of electricity, improper trash disposal, and improper storage of flammable materials. Common locations for fires are identified as the smoking area, waste baskets, kitchen, and laundry. The document provides measures to prevent fires from smoking, electricity, and oxygen use. It outlines actions to take when a fire is discovered, which include following the facility's emergency plan and knowing how to use pull boxes, sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire doors, and fire extinguishers. Proper use of a fire extinguisher is also described.

1. Fire Safety
NATCEP Day Eight

2. Objectives
• Describe potential causes of fires in LTCFs
• Identify measures that should be taken to
prevent fires in a LTCF
• Identify actions to take when a fire is
discovered
• Identify examples of hazardous conditions
that should be reported for correction
• Name devices that are used or activated
when a fire occurs in an LTCF
• Understand proper use of a fire
extinguisher

3. Causes of Fire in the LTFC
• Smoking/inappropriate use of
matches or lighters
• Misuse of electricity
• Incorrect disposal of trash
• Improper storage of flammable
materials

4. Common Locations of Fire
• Smoking area
• Waste Baskets
• Kitchen
• Laundry

5. Preventing Fires from Smoking
• Follow smoking rules!
• Supervise residents while smoking.
• Smoke in designated areas only.
• Use large, deep ashtrays
• Empty ashtrays into fire proof
containers.
• Use smoker’s apron per
resident plan of care and/or
facility policy.

6. Preventing Electrical Fires
• Unplug, label items “out of service”
– report to the nurse & maintenance.
• Never use a defective outlet – report!
• Never use frayed cords - report!
• Never use extension cords or
overload outlets.
• Do not switch an electric razor off or
on while oxygen is in use.

7. Preventing Fires from Oxygen
Use
• Open flames or smoking not allowed
in room with oxygen in use.
• Take measures to prevent static
electricity.
• Electrical safety measures must be
observed.

8. Action Steps when Fire is
Discovered

9. Actions to take when Fire is
Discovered
• Follow the LTCF’s emergency plan.
– Know floor plan of facility
– Know exit route
– Location of pull box alarm, fire
extinguisher and fire hose
– How to report fire
– Facility plan and the NA’s role in plan

10. Devices Used or Activated
• Pull Box
• Sprinkler System
• Smoke Detector
• Fire Alarms/Strobe Lights
• Fire Doors
• Fire Extinguishers: ABC

11. REMEMBER
• Never use elevators during fire
alarm
• Leave room lights on for better
visibility
• Clear hallways of
carts, residents, etc.
• Evacuate ambulatory residents first

12. Fire Extinguisher
• Pull (the pin)
• Aim (at the base of the fire)
• Squeeze (the trigger)
• Sweep (from side to side)