Fire Safety - Trinitas Hospital

Fire Safety
Revised: BW/September 2010

Fire Safety~
The First 3 Minutes Are Critical
Fire is fast – and spreads quickly:
Keep stairways, hallways and fire exits clear from
obstruction-ALWAYS
Investigate any suspicious smell or smoke at once.
If you think there may be a fire behind a door,
feel the door with the back of your hand first.
If the door is hot to the touch DO NOT open it.
Don’t Panic! Remain Calm! Walk, do not run!

Remember:
You Are In a “R.A.C.E.” For Safety
RESCUE
ALARM
CONFINE
EXTINGUISH/EVACUATE

RESCUE
Rescue patients in immediate
danger:
Stay calm to reassure the
patient.
Remember, heat and smoke
will rise towards the ceiling.
Stay low to the ground
during the rescue.

ALARM
Don’t hesitate to sound the alarm:
Do not yell “Fire”. Remain calm.
Act as a team – while one person pulls the
alarm or calls the Emergency number (5050),
the others can rescue patients in danger.
Do not hang up the phone before asking the
party at the other end to repeat the location of
the fire.

CONFINE
Fire doors will close automatically to keep the
fire from spreading.
Always keep doorways clear;
do not prop fire doors open.
Close all doors and windows.
Stuff wet towels under doors
to keep smoke out.
Shut off oxygen supply valves if instructed
to do so.

EXTINGUISH
If the fire is small and
confined, you may:
Smother the fire with a pillow,
towel or blanket.
If a patient’s clothes are on fire,
smother the flames with a large
blanket.
If a piece of equipment is on
fire, pull the plug if possible.
ONLY if safety
permits: Use
P.A.S.S. to operate
a fire extinguisher.

Using a Fire Extinguisher: Remember
P.A.S.S.
Pull the pin between the two handles
Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
Squeeze the handles together
Sweep the nozzle side to side.
Continue to spray the fire even after the flames
are out.
Stay near the extinguished fire, if possible, until
the fire department arrives.

P.A.S.S.
PULL the pin
AIM
LOW at the base of the fire
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SQUEEZE
the lever
SWEEP
from side to side
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Types of Fire Extinguishers:
Class A:
use on ordinary combustible
materials such as paper.
Class B:
use on flammable liquids or
gasses, such as gasoline or
kerosene.
Class C:
use on fires that are in or near
electrical equipment, such as
switches and computers
Class ABC:
can be used on
all 3 types of fires.

If Evacuation Becomes Necessary:
Evacuate ambulatory patients first.
Horizontal evacuation first – through the
fire doors into a safe area on the same floor.
Vertical evacuation is used only if your way is
blocked by smoke or flames.
Never use elevators to evacuate.
Non-ambulatory patients:
Evacuation chairs-located throughout units on
both campuses’.
Can be moved via wheelchairs or stretchers if
necessary.
Two people can use the swing carry or two man single-file
carry to move patients to safety.

Key Fire Safety Points
All employees should be aware of:
The location of primary and secondary exits if
applicable.
Location of fire extinguishers
Location of the evacuation plan
Types of ignitable materials located in your
department
Location of nearest pull station
All electrical equipment must be approved by the
Engineering or Biomedical Department