A fire in a hospitals can cause a terrible disaster due to the sensitive nature of these centers and the presence of disabled and sick people. Smoke and flames block the way to save the sick and injured and endanger the life of the medical staff. In this introduction, we examine the different dimensions of Hospital fire fighting and discuss the necessity of preparing to deal with such incidents.
What is hospital fire fighting?
Hospital fire fighting is part of the overall safety system of the hospital, which is designed to protect the lives of patients, staff, and visitors against fire. This includes the equipment, personnel, and procedures used to prevent, detect, and extinguish fires, as well as the safe evacuation of people in the event of a fire.
Hospital fire fighting safety
Hospital fire fighting safety is of vital importance because hospitals are high-risk environments where vulnerable people such as patients, the elderly, and children are present. A fire in a hospital can lead to loss of life, serious injuries, and significant financial losses.
For this reason, hospitals are obliged to take preventive measures and necessary measures for the following cases:
- Reduce the risk of fire
- Quick-fire detection
- Extinguish the fire effectively
- Safe evacuation of people in case of fire
The following are the key parts of Hospital fire fighting safety:
1. Fire prevention:
- Identification and assessment of fire risks in the hospital
- Creating and implementing fire prevention programs
- Training employees on fire safety
- Regular maintenance and inspection of fire safety systems
- Control of flammable and hazardous materials
2. Fire extinguishing:
- Installation and maintenance of automatic fire alarm systems
- Installation and maintenance of automatic fire extinguishing systems
- Training employees on how to use fire extinguishing equipment
- The existence of emergency plans for safe evacuation of the building
3. Smoke reduction and ventilation:
- Installation and maintenance of smoke ventilation systems
- Creating fire doors and other barriers to prevent the spread of smoke
- Training employees on how smoke ventilation systems work
4. Management and command in emergencies:
- Establish a command plan in emergencies
- Educate employees about their roles in an emergency
- Communicating with fire and emergency organizations
5. Inspection and planning:
- Regular inspection of fire safety systems by fire authorities
- Update fire prevention plans and emergency plans
- Conduct fire drills regularly
Hospital fire fighting system
The key components of Hospital fire fighting systems are:
1. Fire alarm systems:
- Detectors: The function of detectors is to detect smoke, heat, or toxic gas caused by fire in the hospital environment. There are different types of detectors, such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, and gas detectors, each of which is installed in appropriate places.
- Fire alarm boards: Fire alarm boards receive information about the exact location of the fire and the type of fire and inform the people in the hospital in the form of sirens, flashing lights, and displays.
- Power supply: The power supply supplies the electricity required by the fire alarm system during a city power outage.
2. Fire extinguishing systems:
- Sprinklers: Sprinklers are a type of automatic fire extinguishing system that is installed on the roof of the hospital. In case of fire, water or other fire extinguishing materials are sprayed on the fireplace through sprinklers and extinguish the fire.
- Hydrant valves: Hydrant valves provide a source of water for fire extinguishing systems such as sprinklers.
- Fire extinguishers: There are different types of fire extinguishers such as powder extinguishers, gas extinguishers, and foam extinguishers, which are available to people to extinguish small fires.
3. Emergency evacuation systems:
- Emergency exit routes: Emergency exit routes are routes through which people can safely exit the building during a fire. These routes must be marked and free of any obstacles.
- Emergency exit doors: Emergency exit doors should be easy to open from the inside and outside and be resistant to smoke and heat.
- Smoke ventilation systems: Smoke ventilation systems remove smoke and toxic gas from a fire in the hospital environment so that people can easily exit through emergency exits.
Important points about Hospital fire fighting
Here are some important points about Hospital fire fighting:
- Identification of dangerous points: Different areas of the hospital that are at higher risk of fire, such as the storage of flammable materials, engine room, and surgical departments, should be identified and inspected regularly.
- Installation of fire alarm systems: Appropriate fire alarm systems should be installed and tested regularly in all departments of the hospital.
- Personnel training: All hospital personnel should be trained on fire hazards, how to use fire extinguishers and emergency evacuation instructions.
If you see a fire, notify the fire department immediately. If you are at the scene of a fire, try to put out the fire using fire extinguishers or other fire extinguishing equipment.
Conclusion
Fire in hospitals is a terrible disaster that can endanger the lives of innocent people. For this reason, fire prevention and preparation to deal with it is one of the most important duties of hospital managers and personnel.
In this context, we examined the different aspects of Hospital fire fighting and provided solutions for preventing and dealing with fire. By following the given points, the probability of fire in hospitals can be significantly reduced and if such incidents occur, it can be dealt with in the best way.