Planning fire drills in healthcare facilities

Staff, visitors, volunteers and others may ignore the fire alarm and continue to go on with their day


How do you plan fire drills in healthcare facilities, when some staff, visitors, volunteers and others may ignore the fire alarm and continue to go on with their day? Hospitals get to decide for themselves how their staff should react during a fire alarm, as stipulated in their fire response plan, according to an article on the FacilityCare website.

The Joint Commission standard says staff who work in buildings where patients are housed or treated participate in drills according to the hospital’s fire response plan. 

Section 18/19.7.1.3 of the 2000 Life Safety Code (18/19.7.1.2 of the 2012 Life Safety Code) says employees of healthcare occupancies shall be instructed in life safety procedures and devices. 

Neither the Joint Commission standard (and EP) and the LSC reference actually requires all staff to participate in every fire drill.

Read the article.

 

 



June 5, 2015


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Putting Trauma-Informed Design into Practice

Arnold's Place demonstrates how design choices can promote dignity and a sense of control for those experiencing homelessness.


Harris Health to Build New Freestanding Cancer Center

The center is planned to open in 2029, following the opening of the new O'Quinn Hospital along the North Loop at Lockwood.


Inland Empire Health Plan Opens Expanded San Bernardino Community Wellness Center

The new 33,000-square-foot center is nearly three times the size of the original location off Second Street.


Energy Security: Benefits of Hospital Microgrids

Healthcare facility managers need to keep medicine, machines, information and life-support systems operating when the surrounding infrastructure is not.


UT MD Anderson to Expand Texas Medical Center Via Two New Facilities

Inspiration Tower and Prism will serve as the new front door to UT MD Anderson.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.