Fire in ICU

Fire in ICU

OVERVIEW

Approach to Fire in ICU has 3 key goals:

  • (1) protect patients and staff
  • (2) manage fire hazard
  • (3) identify cause and prevention

Following a fire conduct a review of incident and response to identify cause of fire and any issues with management with subsequent review of fire policy and implementation of staff education and simulation exercises.

MANAGEMENT OF FIRE HAZARD

RACER

Rescue

  • Remove all patients and staff from immediate danger area with safe disconnection of lines, monitoring and equipment and manual ventilation of patients, if safe to do so

Alert

  •  activate fire alarm
  • notify switchboard (e.g. “respond red confirmed”), stating exact location and nature of fire
  • Activate unit fire drill
  •  take instructions from the designated area fire warden

Contain

  • shut all doors and windows
  • turn off oxygen outlets

Extinguish

  • If fire is smaller than a waste basket attempt to extinguish, if trained and safe to do so
  • use appropriate extinguishers (CO2 and dry powder) and fire blankets

Relocate

  • if fire uncontrolled evacuate patients via fire exits
  • Evacuate visitors, then the most stable patients first and most unstable last while continuing essential organ support, monitoring and essential medications
  • Staff should evacuate after all patients have been removed and rooms checked, if safe to do so
  • Depending on the extent of the fire this may be:
    — Horizontal evacuation through at least one set of fire doors to another part of the ICU or an acute care area on the same floor
    — Vertical evacuation via stairs to the floor below
    — Out of building evacuation
  • evacuate to predesignated areas (assembly points)
  • Liaison with ED, OT, HDU, CCU and other high care areas in the hospital and/or neighbouring hospitals for ongoing care of the evacuated patients

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Appropriate use = PASS

  • Pull the lockpin from its place
  • Aim the nozzle at the base of the flames
  • Squeeze the handles together; and
  • Sweep from side to side at the base of the flames

Do not use a fire extinguisher unless there are two trained staff and it is safe to do so.

Source: Life in the fast lane