Assessing your Fire Safety + Evacuation Preparedness

Tragic events often lead to a time of contemplation and reflection. As the long-term care industry laments the outcome of the recent fire tragedy in Fall River Massachusetts, the incident can serve as a catalyst for long-term care communities to evaluate their current fire safety preparedness. 

Consider these questions when assessing your organization’s overall fire safety program:

Does your fire and evacuation plan include simple and actionable procedures?

Staff fire procedures don’t need to be complex. In particular, the crucial actions to be taken when a fire occurs should be outlined in simple easy to follow steps. Some organizations utilize an acronym such as RACE or similar. 

Are your evacuation procedures based upon your building life safety features and best practices?

A protect-in-place procedure that utilizes internal relocation to other smoke compartments in the building is the standard practice for healthcare occupancies such as nursing homes. However, assisted living evacuation procedures can widely vary based upon state licensing requirements, the level of sprinkler protection, the compartmentalization of the building and other factors.   

Is there a process-in-place to ensure a back-up phone call is made anytime the fire alarm is activated and/or a fire is identified?

While your fire alarm system most likely provides notification to the fire department through a central monitoring system or similar means, it is crucial to ensure a back-up call to 911 or other designated fire department emergency number occurs. It confirms the fire department will respond and provides an opportunity to share any specific information about the fire/alarm that can be invaluable to first responders and emergency dispatchers. 

Do staff members receive comprehensive fire safety training upon hire and then annually thereafter?

Staff competence and confidence in their ability to enact their fire procedures are key to having a positive outcome when a fire occurs. A comprehensive training program includes training on the crucial actions to take when a fire is discovered; the importance of containing fire and smoke; when and how to extinguish an incipient fire; and when, how and where to evacuate. 

Do you conduct a critique at the conclusion of each fire drill and use it as an educational opportunity?

An effective fire drill is one that evaluates the ability of staff to carry out their procedures, verifies the effectiveness of staff training and provides an opportunity to practice the fire procedures hands-on in real time. Concluding each drill with a formal critique can be an effective educational opportunity. 

Is the fire department familiar with your building, procedures and evacuation plan?

Don’t let an emergency be the first-time firefighters enter your building. Invite your local fire department to tour the building, review your fire and evacuation procedures and share a copy of building floor plans. Indicate who will meet the fire department personnel upon their arrival when they respond. Defend-in-place procedures are fairly unique to the healthcare organizations. Take the time to review the location of smoke barriers, fire department entry points, staff procedures and any resident meeting/refuge areas.

Do your corridor doors positively latch and adequately resist the passage of smoke?

Even in fully sprinklered buildings, smoke is a serious concern. A small fire contained by a sprinkler can create a significant amount of smoke. Corridor doors are key to containing fire, smoke and protecting residents. Fire procedures should emphasis the importance of closing the door(s) to the fire area once it has been evacuated. Doors are also generally closed to all remaining rooms in the fire area while an organized evacuation decision and process commences. It is wise to have a door maintenance plan in place to verify door latching mechanisms are functioning properly and that doors have not drastically warped, allowing smoke to travel around the perimeter.   

What This Means for You

While this list is not all inclusive, it is a good starting point for an internal assessment. Click here to find out how Jensen Hughes can assist your organization in maintaining a comprehensive fire safety program.