FIRE & LIFE FIRE & LIFE SAFETYSAFETY

UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS -UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS -

ST. PAUL & ZALE LIPSHYST. PAUL & ZALE LIPSHY

UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTERUT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER

TopicsTopics

Fire Basics

Fire Prevention

Fire Protection

Emergency Response: CODE RED

FireFire is a by-product of a process called combustioncombustion.

CombustionCombustion is the rapid rapid oxidationoxidation of a fuelfuel with the release of energy in the form of heat and light.

What is Fire…?What is Fire…?

How do fires start…?How do fires start…?

Fuel

Fuel

Oxyg

e

Oxyg

enn

Source of Source of IgnitionIgnition

There are There are 33 ingredients necessary for a FIRE to occur: ingredients necessary for a FIRE to occur:

““The Fire Triangle”The Fire Triangle”

Toxic SmokeToxic Smoke !• Carbon Monoxide (CO)

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

• Other toxic gases

Intense Heat !Intense Heat !> 1,000 deg. F

What makes fire so What makes fire so dangerous…?dangerous…?

FIRE PREVENTIONFIRE PREVENTION

Fire HazardsFire Hazards

FuelFuel, , HeatHeat, and , and OxygenOxygen must be present for a fire to occur. A Fire can must be present for a fire to occur. A Fire can NOTNOT occur unless all 3 ingredients are present in the occur unless all 3 ingredients are present in the right proportionsright proportions and in and in close proximityclose proximity. Therefore, these 3 ingredients, when brought . Therefore, these 3 ingredients, when brought together, present a together, present a Fire HazardFire Hazard..

FUEL:FUEL: A material (solid, liquid, or gas) that burns. A material (solid, liquid, or gas) that burns.

Examples:Examples: Wood, paper, cloth, plastic, rubber, alcohol, gasoline, natural Wood, paper, cloth, plastic, rubber, alcohol, gasoline, natural gas.gas.

OXYGEN:OXYGEN: Oxygen is necessary for combustion. Oxygen is necessary for combustion.

Examples:Examples: Air, compressed oxygen, oxidizers Air, compressed oxygen, oxidizers

HEAT:HEAT: A source of energy (flame, heat, or spark) that starts the chain reaction. A source of energy (flame, heat, or spark) that starts the chain reaction.

Examples:Examples: Lighter, cigarettes, oven, friction, electrical spark. Lighter, cigarettes, oven, friction, electrical spark.

Prevent Prevent fires by ReducingReducing or EliminatingEliminating Fire Hazards

Common Fire HazardsCommon Fire Hazards

Poor Housekeeping

Improper Storage & Usage of Flammable Liquids & Gases

Improper Usage of Heat or Flame Producing Equipment

Improper Use of Electrical Equipment

Improper Storage around Electrical Equipment

Improper Storage & Usage of Compressed Oxygen Cylinders

Carelessness!

FIRE PROTECTIONFIRE PROTECTION

FIRE EXTINGUISHERSFIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Types of fire extinguishers at Types of fire extinguishers at the Hospitalthe Hospital

Multi-Purpose Dry

Chemical

Carbon Dioxide

PULL the pin

AIM the nozzle

SQUEEZE the handle

SWEEP from side to side

How to use a fire How to use a fire extinguisher: extinguisher: P.A.S.S.P.A.S.S.

How to use a fire How to use a fire extinguisher: Demonstrationextinguisher: Demonstration

FIRE SPRINKLERSFIRE SPRINKLERS

Side Wall

Pendant

Concealed

Upright

Types of Fire SprinklersTypes of Fire Sprinklers

Must Maintain Must Maintain 18” 18” ClearanceClearance between between sprinkler and top of sprinkler and top of

storage at storage at ALL TIMESALL TIMES

Sprinkler ObstructionsSprinkler Obstructions

EMERGENCY RESPONSE:EMERGENCY RESPONSE:“CODE RED”“CODE RED”

University Hospitals – University Hospitals – ST. PAUL & ZALE LIPSHY ST. PAUL & ZALE LIPSHY

FIRE EMERGENCY FIRE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN:RESPONSE PLAN:

There are 3 levels3 levels of responseof response to a fire emergency at the University Hospitals

(depending on your proximity to the fire…)

In a In a Level 1Level 1 fire response, the fire is located fire response, the fire is located onon your floor, your floor, withinwithin your unit. your unit.

In this case, staff should follow the In this case, staff should follow the R.A.C.E.R.A.C.E. procedure…procedure…

Level 1 Fire Response:Level 1 Fire Response:

RESCUERESCUE any patients in immediate danger from the room or area where the fire is

located.

In most cases, only the patient(s) in only the patient(s) in the room where the fire originated the room where the fire originated

will need to be rescued and will need to be rescued and relocatedrelocated. All other patients can

usually be left in their room with the door shut as long as there is no smoke in the room. This places less stress on

the patient and hospital staff, while keeping the corridors clear.

ALERTALERT staff members in the immediate staff members in the immediate area, activate the nearest fire alarm pull area, activate the nearest fire alarm pull

station, and call 3333.station, and call 3333.

Alert other staff members to the situation in a manner that does NOT cause panic.

Pull down the handle on the fire alarm pull station.

Call 33333333 and report Code RedCode Red to the Operator, who then makes a “code red” announcement over the

hospital PA system. State the building, the floor or unit, and room number.

The announcement over the PA system will be as follows:

““Code Red, ___building,___ floor, ___ “Code Red, ___building,___ floor, ___ “ (room number)

CONFINECONFINE the fire and smoke to the room of origin by closing all doors and windows.

To keep patients safe, doors and windows must be closed to contain

the smoke and heat, as well as reduce the amount of oxygen available to the

fire. Be sure to close patient room doors since they do not close

automatically upon a fire alarm.

EXTINGUISHEXTINGUISH the fire if it is safe to do so. Otherwise, EVACUATEEVACUATE to an adjacent smoke

compartment or floor.

Fire extinguishers are designed to extinguish small fires, NOT large, well developed or

rapidly spreading fires.

If the fire cannot be extinguished, follow the evacuation procedures detailed in the

“Evacuation Plan”.

In general, evacuate horizontally first into an adjacent smoke compartment, or to the outside if on the ground floor. If multiple

smoke compartments are involved, it may be necessary to evacuate vertically to an adjacent

floor using the enclosed exit stairwells. However, due to the difficultly involved in

transporting non-ambulatory patients down the stairs, this should be a last resort.

In a Level 2Level 2 response, the fire is located on your floor, but NOT within your unit.

In this case, staff should follow the following procedure:

Level 2 Fire Response:Level 2 Fire Response:

Close all patient room doors.Close all patient room doors.

Wait for further instructions.Wait for further instructions.

Remove objects from the corridor.Remove objects from the corridor.

In a Level 3Level 3 response, the fire is NOT located on your floor.

In this case, staff should follow the following procedure:

Level 3 Fire Response:Level 3 Fire Response:

Wait for further instructions.Wait for further instructions.