Fire safety refers to precautions taken to eliminate or decrease the probability of the occurrence of a fire.
As nurses, we all ought to be patient-centered and be knowledgeable enough to preserve the safety of our clients as well as ourselves.
Listed below are several guidelines that could be followed by nurses in the occurrence of fires.
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Remember the acronym RACE!
- Rescue First remove all clients that are within the vicinity of the fire.
- Alarm Activate the fire alarm.
- Confine Close doors and windows when a fire is detected, but remember to provide an exit door or keep the fire exit open.
Extinguish Extinguish the fire, using the appropriate fire extinguisher available.
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Keep open spaces free of clutter.
Clutter are flammable materials or obstacles. Reducing the clutter in your area, would mean free space to move about during an emergency and a reduction of the probability of having a fire.
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Clearly mark fire exits.
Fire exits not marked clearly may be the cause of several people in your area to be trapped. A fire exit sign or an exit sign usually requires the word “EXIT” in large, well-lit green or red letters. Some signs have arrows and an outline of a man, walking or running out.
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Know the location of all fire alarms, exits, and extinguishers.
Knowing the location of all these is necessary to allow safe passage of the clients and to be able to extinguish or confine the fire.
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Know the telephone numbers for reporting fires.
Check with the local firestation their nos. and emergency numbers to provide quick assistance in cases of fire.
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Know the fire drill and evacuation plan of the agency.
Every hospital has an evacuation plan and provides fire drills to its employees. Knowledge is key to be able to work in these situations.
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Never use the elevator in the event of a fire.
Being trapped inside the elevator while a fire is on going is the last thing you’d want to be at.
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Turn off oxygen and appliances in the vicinity of the fire.
Oxygen is flammable and may heighten the fire. Appliances may cause the fire to further damage the station.
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In the event of fire, if a client is on life support, maintain respiratory status manually with an ambu-bag until the client is moved away from the threat of the fire and can be placed back on life support.
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Bedridden clients generally are moved from the scene of a fire by stretcher, their beds, or wheelchair.
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If there is a fire, ambulatory clients can be directed to walk by themselves to a safe area and can be instructed to may be assist in moving clients in wheelchairs.
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If a client must be carried from the area of a fire, appropriate transfer techniques need to be used.
Always observed transfer technics to avoid bodily harm to your clients. Also, observe proper body mechanics to avoid injury to self.
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If the fire department personnel are at the scene of the fire, they can help evacuate clients. Inform of the officers of the situation.
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If a burning victim is approaching, log roll the patient. Do not throw any liquids to the flame because certain liquids may cause the flame to combust and further heighten the flame. If a burning pregnant client is approaching DO NOT LOG ROLL the client. Instead, get a blanket, moisten it with water and wrap it around the client’s body.
