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

Creating Healthcare Campus Master Plans That Allow Movement and Respite

A thoughtful campus master plan looks beyond buildings to the corridors and transitional spaces that shape how people experience healthcare environments.


Aspirus Health Celebrates Opening of Chippewa Falls Hospital and Clinic

The new facility combines hospital and clinic services in one location and is designed to support patients with coordinated, patient-centered care.


AdventHealth to Open Aurora Highlands Medical Campus

AdventHealth Aurora Highlands includes a 24-hour freestanding emergency room, outpatient imaging and clinic services.


The Future of Healthcare Facility Construction Projects

Brian Cowperthwaite highlights the invisible work that impacts everyone who walks through a healthcare facility.


Arnprior Regional Health Upgrades Building Controls to Improve IEQ

Case study: They wanted to improve the hospital facility’s IEQ to support patient care and reduce long-term operating costs.


 
 


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.