How to Practice Fire Safety in a Hospital

The JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Operations) hospital standards are not posted a lot outside of "internal use" settings, but some basic guidelines are taught to health care providers. Practicing fire safety in a hospital is key to patient safety. Follow these steps to practicing fire safety in a hospital

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Read available materials, whether it be JCAHO guidelines, practical studies or the materials published for your hospital.
2. Keep equipment in working order. Studies show that many medical equipment fires are caused by old and/or faulty equipment.
3. Tag all wall sockets and plugs. Many facilities have different color codes for sockets depending on intended use or voltage.
4. Keep the necessary fire extinguishers and other systems, such as sprinklers on hand and in working order.
5. Keep evacuation plans current. File a detailed evacuation plan including who is responsible for certain areas, especially patient beds. Keep copies in places where they can be reviewed by department heads for safety drills or educational purposes.
6. Implement an "at the door" training program for all employees to insure that everyone knows what the policies are for fire safety.
7. Keep adapting. Bring the subject up in meetings. If a new facility opens, make sure there are protocols set up to cover it. If new technology emerges, get it on the table.

Tips & Warnings

• These are not exhaustive guidelines. The best and most detailed guidelines must be purchased from JCAHO or obtained straight from a health and safety organization that is central to fire safety implementation. Other guidelines may apply to a medical facility outside of the more general fire safety guidelines followed in standard non-medical businesses.