FIRE HAZARD AND PREPAREDNESS PRACTICES


  1. Be aware of hazards and report immediately.
  2. Locate and remember
    1. Escape routes
    2. Fire drill procedures.
    3. Use of available equipment
      1. Fire escapes
      2. Fire doors
      3. Fire alarms
      4. Fire sprinkler controls
      5. Fire extinguishers
      6. Shut off valves for O2 and/or medical air
    4. Keep fire exits clear.
  3. Fire Safety
    1. Prevention is everyone's responsibility.
    2. Three elements needed for a fire to start
      1. Fuel--substance that will burn
      2. Heat--flame or spark
      3. Oxygen--room air contains 21% O2.
    3. See Table 3.3.
  4. In the event of a fire
    1. Move clients to safety if in immediate vicinity of fire
    2. Sound the alarm
    3. Close all windows and doors
      1. If selected clients need continuous O2 or medical air, attach to emergency provisions once they are removed from vicinity of fire
      2. Shut off piped-in O2 and/or medical air
    4. Follow institutional policy concerning announcing the fire and location and notifying fire company
    5. Avoid use of elevators
    6. Follow institutional evacuation plan as needed.

TABLE 3.3 Fire Hazards and Prevention

Fire Hazards

Fire Prevention

Faulty electrical equipment and wiring

Report frayed or exposed electrical wires
Report sparks or excessive heat coming from electrical equipment

Overloaded circuits

Avoid overloaded circuits
Don't use adapters or extension cords

Plugs that are not properly grounded

Use only 3-pronged grounded plugs
Do not allow electrical equipment from outside the institution to be used until it is checked by the maintenance department

Clutter

Avoid clutter

Unsafe practices when O2 in use

No open flames or smoking in the area
Remove flammable liquids from the area
Post "Oxygen in Use" signs as per institutional policy
Secure O2 storage per institutional policy

Smoking

Remove cigarettes and matches from room
Report suspicious odors of smoke or burning immediately
Control smoking practices per institutional policy
Limit smoking to designated areas
Directly supervise smoking of selected clients
Ensure use of safe ashtrays/metal receptacles

Spontaneous combustion

Dispose of chemicals, rags, and combustible substances in proper containers

Wednesday, July 25, 2007 | |

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

 

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

OUR FACEBOOK FANPAGE