This is Why
5,650
healthcare structure fires annually
160
patient and staff injuries
$45 million
in direct property damage
RPA has been involved in the review of hundreds of healthcare fires, from surgical fires in the Operating Room to multiple life loss fires.
Our specialization in healthcare fire safety focuses on the entire spectrum of healthcare related occupancies, including senior independent living, assisted living, board and care, ambulatory surgery, nursing homes and hospitals.
Events of Significance:
2003:
Two healthcare fires took the lives of a total of 32 patients.
2009:
Horizontal evacuation and relocation of more than 480 patients in a hospital fire.
2013:
Relocation of more than 90 patients at a children’s hospital after smoke was introduced to the building through the ventilation system from an external fire.
2016:
Partial or full evacuation of 2 hospitals due to internal fires.
2011:
FDA Safety Communication on October 13, 2011 on Preventing Surgical Fires calls out there are 550 to 650 surgical fires annually in hospitals and surgery centers (under The Joint Commission as of 2015, working closely with the Counsel on Surgical & Perioperative Safety )
This news story focuses on graphic images of individuals and families affected by surgical fires and keys in on one element (prep solutions) that is a contributing factor to fires (one element of the fire triangle)
2003:
Two healthcare fires took the lives of a total of 32 patients.
2009:
Horizontal evacuation and relocation of more than 480 patients in a hospital fire.
2011:
FDA Safety Communication on October 13, 2011 on Preventing Surgical Fires calls out there are 550 to 650 surgical fires annually in hospitals and surgery centers (under The Joint Commission as of 2015, working closely with the Counsel on Surgical & Perioperative Safety )
This news story focuses on graphic images of individuals and families affected by surgical fires and keys in on one element (prep solutions) that is a contributing factor to fires (one element of the fire triangle)
2013:
Relocation of more than 90 patients at a children’s hospital after smoke was introduced to the building through the ventilation system from an external fire.
2016:
Partial or full evacuation of 2 hospitals due to internal fires.
(from NFPA’s Report “Fires in Health Care Facilities,” September 2016)
- U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 5,650 structure fires in health care properties per year in 2009-2013.
- These fires caused annual averages of four civilian deaths, 160 civilian injuries, and $45 million in direct property damage.
- In 2009-2013, cooking was the leading cause of fires in all health care properties, accounting for 65% of fires.
- Most fires in these properties are small. Fire spread beyond the room of origin in only 4% of health care fires (226 fires).
This is How
In order to respond effectively to a fire, you need hands-on training based on customized fire procedures for your healthcare facility. The development of procedures and training programs requires intimate knowledge of your building, staffing patterns, patient population, and fire department response strategies. This is where RPA comes in.
Our fire safety programs assess the effectiveness of your existing fire procedures, ensure the right procedures are in place to complement your site-specific clinical and physical plant attributes, and trains all staff—with special focus on leadership—to respond to and recover from a fire in your facility.
Customized Services Include:
- A comprehensive fire protection survey of your facility.
- Custom-designed facility and unit/area-specific fire procedures.
- Realistic hands-on fire and horizontal evacuation training for staff and leadership (fire suppression, smoke awareness, etc.).
- Fire drill process improvement and facilitated fire drills.
- Annual continuous readiness services integrating new case studies and lessons learned from recent fires to ensure your staff are competent in taking critical actions during a fire emergency.
