Workplace safety: Fire safety

Fires are known to cause huge losses in terms of property damages, injuries, and deaths. They pose even greater threats in healthcare facilities where there are many physically weak and sick people unable to get out of their beds or chairs.

Additionally, healthcare facilities have volatile and flammable chemicals in their setting; the presence of oxygen can aggravate fires and make them hard to control. As a nursing assistant, you should know how to prevent fires and what to do when there’s a fire at your facility.

There are three important elements that must be present to start a fire: fuel, heat, and oxygen. In a healthcare setting, fuel is anything that can burn, such as bed linens, mattresses, clothing, paper, and so forth.

Just like fuel, sources of heat are everywhere in healthcare settings. It can be from an electrical spark from a frayed electrical cord; overheated devices, such as irons, furnaces, or radiators; or a lighted candle or cigarette.

Oxygen in the air we breathe is sufficient to start a fire. Also, note that there are clients in healthcare settings who are on oxygen therapy, which increases the amount of oxygen in the environment.

The first step to preventing damages and losses caused by fires is to know how to prevent them in the first place. Preventing fires is everyone's responsibility, so let’s focus on what you should do as a nursing assistant.

For healthcare settings where clients are permitted to smoke, make sure they do so only in designated areas and that there’s somewhere they can extinguish cigarettes and matches.

Keep an eye on clients who smoke who are mentally disabled or disoriented because they might not follow the rules. Never allow clients, especially those on oxygen therapy, to smoke in the bed.

This is because a client might fall asleep and drop a cigarette on the bed. Also, do not give clients who are on oxygen anything that can create sparks.

Even something like a wool or mohair blanket can cause a spark because it has some amount of static electricity in it. Other things to watch out for include flammable liquids, such as hair spray, nail polish removers, and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

It’s important to know the areas where oxygen is in use at your facility; these are usually indicated by signs, which might differ from facility to facility.

Other precautions include removing electric devices with frayed wires; replacing malfunctioning smoke detectors; and if there is a smell of smoke, its source should be investigated.

Finally, be familiar with the facility’s fire safety policies and make sure you know where to quickly find fire extinguishers and that the fire exits are unobstructed by equipment.

Sometimes a fire may occur despite doing everything to prevent it. During such a situation, follow the RACE fire response plan.

RACE states that the first thing to do is to Remove clients who are in immediate danger to safety. Transport weak and sick clients in wheelchairs.

If possible, move the entire bed if the client cannot get out of the bed. Some beds may have evacuation sheets designed specifically for emergency evacuation of bedridden people.