Health and safety
l regular checks are performed on all fire safety equipment, the integrity of emergency escape routes and final exit doors
l electrical equipment in use in the care home is subject to regular examination by a competent person and visual checks are made before each use
l gas supply and appliances are checked regularly by a competent person in accordance with the appropriate legislation.
Of course, a fire alarm is essential and it is vital to ascertain that: l the fire alarm system has smoke and heat detectors and meets the L1 standard3
Prevention
Awareness and information
Early warning or suppression
Training (with appropriate additional
warning systems in use where required, such as vibrating pillows and flashing beacons for those who are hearing impaired. An L1 standard fire alarm system complies with one of the classifications of fire alarm systems in the British Standard BS5839: 2017 – it is the highest of the classifications and denotes an alarm system that has a detector in every room and/ or area and is designed for the protection of life rather than property
l a sprinkler system is fitted where appropriate – an ideal scenario, although I realise that few care homes are able to provide this level of protection at present
l portable fire extinguishers are appropriately sited – never underestimate the importance of catching a small fire before it grows.
Awareness and information Too often, training mentions only the fire triangle. Of course, everyone should know how fires start, how they propagate and how to stop them, but are staff also shown how to assess the risks associated with a resident smoking, for example? Are they aware of concerns about using emollient creams, especially if the resident is a smoker?4,5
Is there a robust
policy regarding the changing of bed linen in such cases?
A measured, considered and sensible approach has to be taken – and who best to consult with than the staff members who have daily contact with residents. For example, are staff involved in decisions made about fire loading in corridors? In many homes the presence of memory boxes, posters, flowers, pictures, memorabilia and of course, soft furnishings may present a significant hazard. But, do we just ban them, leaving sterile corridors, no places to sit and
36 Figure 1. The four sides of care home fire safety prevention
rest and no everyday items to evoke memories and encourage conversation? Of course not.
Once staff are adequately informed about fire prevention, why fires start and how they propagate, how the body is affected by smoke and fire, and when and how to use a fire extinguisher, there is a further element of knowledge and skill they require. This relates to evacuation and specifically phased horizontal evacuation (PHE). There are of course other ways to conduct the evacuation of premises, particularly in a small care home with easy access to the external environment. However, PHE is often considered to be the industry standard. In PHE, residents who are located in an area/compartment in which there may be danger due to a fire, for example,
Further information
l Department for Communities and Local Government. (2006) Fire Safety Risk Assessment: Residential care premises. [
www.gov.uk/government/ publications/fire-safety-risk- assessment-residential-care- premises].
l The Institution of Fire Engineers - Fire Risk Assessors Register
www.ife.org.uk/Fire-Risk- Assessors-Register
l National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services
www.nashics.org
l Chief Fire Officers Association
www.cfoa.org.uk
l Health and Safety Executive
www.hse.gov.uk
are moved to an adjacent compartment where they are considered to be temporarily safe. If the danger extends to their new location, they are moved on, perhaps outside, downstairs or to another compartment. Residents continue to be moved this way until they are in a place of ultimate safety or the situation is declared safe by a fire officer. Training must include how each resident can be helped to evacuate. The personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) is an essential tool to prepare for this. When compiled properly, this will indicate how to assist each resident, including reminders to use evacuation aids such as evacuation mats or evacuation chairs, and resulting in a site specific emergency evacuation plan that will detail exactly how this is to be achieved.
Whatever the exact content of the training - plans, PEEPS and the equipment used to effect a safe evacuation – none of it is of much use unless it is practiced. A fire drill must be a practical run through of the plans you have, using PEEPS for residents and the correct equipment so that your staff, residents and their relatives and friends can see that the plan works, the equipment works and that everyone will be kept as safe as possible should a fire break out.
Fire risk assessment
All four sides of the square of fire safety preparation can be appropriately summarised in three words – fire risk assessment. Not only is carrying out a fire risk assessment a legal requirement for a care home, but it is an essential support in making sure that the four sides of the square are in place. It is often suggested that a fire risk
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • January 2018
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