Care home fire plans

Care home fire plans and procedures

All care home fire plans need to be planned in advance. The safety of residents and also staff will rely on knowing the care home fire plans and quickly putting it into place.

A lot of care homes carry out regular fire training for staff. This usually has fire extinguisher input, how to evacuate, the fire safety features in the home and fire drills. The aim of care home fire training is to provide an efficient procedure and that staff will know exactly what to do when a fire alarm operates in their building.

Many care home fire plans look like this:

When the fire alarm sounds

• Care staff stop what they are doing and go to main fire panel.
• Other staff turn off  appliances and then also go to the panel.
• A member of staff should be told to call the fire service and also await their arrival.
• Manager or senior staff on duty to send  first pair of staff  to arrive at fire panel to the affected fire zone (investigation team).
• Investigation team  take an emergency transfer sling and also radio.
• Manager or senior staff to send additional staff in pairs when they arrive at the fire panel. (These persons can also take additional slings / wheelchairs in case they are needed for evacuation).
• When all staff have arrived at the fire panel the manager may silence the fire alarm.
• All staff should be aware that this does not mean that the event is over.
• If the fire alarm resounds this may mean that an incident has operated another smoke detector.

At the affected fire zone:

• Investigation team to enter zone using the correct door procedure.
• Start checking rooms, area looking for fire or smoke and also which smoke detector that has operated. This will be a thorough check including any en-suite rooms.
• Shut any door that may not have shut when alarm operated.
• Member of the investigation team should also direct other staff to rooms that have not yet been checked as they arrive at the affected area.
• Staff to calm residents in rooms that are not affected by fire.
• If a member of staff detects an incident  in a residents room  or other area they must –“Call for help from colleagues”. They should also  move any person in that room or area immediately, provided it is safe to do so. Good communications is key!
• Should an incident is detected the investigation team should inform manager.
• If the fire alarm has not resounded when a fire / smoke / smell of smoke has been discovered, the fire alarm call point should be located and the fire alarm raised again.
• Start the  fire procedure such as delayed evacuation, progressive horizontal evacuation or also full evacuation .
• Use personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPS) if needed. These may need to be given to arriving emergency services if the evacuation is not yet complete.

Other:

• Ensure visitors  are evacuated to the assembly point outside of the building.
• Kitchen staff to turn off cookers etc and leave kitchen in safe condition.
• Domestic staff – turn off appliances and report to fire alarm panel.

On arrival of the fire service:

• Manager or senior person to tell officer in charge of fire service what the incident is and where.
• Take instructions from fire service officer on whether to change evacuation procedure (delayed / progressive horizontal / full).
• Move persons affected by the fire to a safe area using safety equipment.
• Using residents PEEPS consider where persons should go to. (part of a post incident plan).
• Account for all persons.

Night shifts:

• The same fire plan will apply – one person at the fire panel – two investigating and also carrying fire plan.
• Additional persons (if any) to assist evacuation.
• Make sure the fire service is called.
• If there is a fire, smoke or smell of smoke move any resident provided it is safe. Resound fire alarm by hitting fire alarm call point.
• Make sure doors are shut.

Be aware that a fire alarm will probably open all secure doors in any “Dementia wing”. Some residents may try to wander from the area. Plans must also include how to manage this.

How to book care home fire training with us

Booking care home fire training with us is so easy! Either call us or email us with your preferred dates. Once we have agreed a date, we will ask for some details and also ask you to agree our terms. Once we have your details your course is booked. Remember any number of staff can attend one of training sessions.