Hospitals are big places with many levels, spanning various departments and loads of electrical equipment, as well as hazardous materials. Fire protection measures within a hospital environment are vital for the safety of all concerned. Hospitals also present another challenge. While a regular workplace is generally filled with healthy and able-bodied people, it’s a far different scenario within a hospital. Hospitals are filled with patients, many of them bed-ridden or immobilized.
Let’s take a look at some strategies to improve fire protection in a hospital environment.
#1 – An Effective Evacuation Plan Is Paramount
Having an evacuation plan in place will save lives in the event of a fire. When it comes to effective evacuation plans for a hospital, there will need to be special considerations in place due to the fact that patients, as well as staff, will need to be swiftly and safely evacuated from the premises.
Fire protection companies can assist hospitals with creating an evacuation plan and train all members of staff on that plan, so everyone is familiar with the procedure should a fire ever eventuate.
Generally, more critical patients will be evacuated first, followed by patients who are less critical. Certain medical equipment will often need to be evacuated along with the patients.
Hospital evacuation plans are a lot more complex than evacuation plans for other facilities and businesses, so professional assistance in formulating the plan will definitely be required.
#2 – Fire Safety Training Is Essential
In such a complex environment that contains a mix of medical staff and patients, fire safety training for employees is vital for the safety of everyone. Once again, with the help of fire protection companies that provide training services, all members of staff, from doctors right through to janitorial staff, can be trained in fire safety and prevention best practices.
Training will not only lead to more effective measures being taken if a fire breaks out, but training will also educate employees so fires can be prevented.
#3 – Hospitals Should Be Equipped With the Appropriate Fire Extinguishers
Different parts of a hospital will require different types of fire extinguishers. For example, wards will use water mist fire extinguishers, while areas such as kitchens will have fire extinguishers designed to extinguish flammable oil fires. Other parts of the hospital may require extinguishers for hazardous materials or electrical fires.
Your fire safety and protection specialist can advise you on what type of fire extinguisher will be required in particular locations, as well as how many fire extinguishers should be on hand.
#4 – All Hospitals Should Have Fire Sprinkler Systems
Fire sprinklers systems are one of the most effective fire suppression systems available for hospitals. They can be the difference between life and death and also allow more time for evacuation procedures to take place. Fire sprinkler systems help prevent fires from spreading and also preserve the building and its equipment.
Sprinkler systems will only engage in areas where there is intense heat generated by fire, so unaffected areas will not be doused unnecessarily with water.
#5 – Detection, Alarms, and Notification Systems
A specialist fire design engineer with hospital experience will advise and install all of the appropriate fire detection equipment, which includes fire alarms and notification systems. These systems can pinpoint exactly where a fire is located and plans can then be executed to extinguish the blaze or evacuate the hospital.
Detection and alarm systems serve as an early warning system so everyone inside the hospital has the time to reach the safety of the designated evacuation point.
#6 – Emergency Lighting and Exit Lights
Something else that’s key to fire safety in a hospital environment is emergency lighting and exit lighting. Emergency lighting can run on battery backup in the event the power goes out during a fire. This lighting provides enough illumination for everyone to be able to see and get out. The same goes for exit lighting. These lights also have battery backup and provide essential signposts, letting people know which direction to go so they can escape to safety.
Training will not only lead to more effective measures being taken if a fire breaks out, but training will also educate employees so fires can be prevented.
If you’re looking to educate your employees with fire safety training and first aid, you can reach out to Coast2Coast First Aid and Aquatics Mississauga.
