Nursing Fire Plan

Introduction

Date of Last Review 5/19/08
SME: Director of Nursing

To ensure patient and staff safety, the Nursing department has established a fire plan for fire emergencies.

Fire equipment

This table describes the fire equipment in UTHCPC:

Equipment	Description
Fire detectors	UTHCPC has smoke detectors located throughout the facility that trigger the automatic fire alarm. The UTHCPC internal fire alert designation is termed "Code Red."
Fire alarm	The fire alarm has the following components: The audio alarm that has a loud, continuous sounding horn. The visual alarm that has a blinking light inside a white plastic sign (with "FIRE" printed on it in red) Location: Mounted on the upper wall
Fire alarm pull boxes	UTHCPC has fire alarm pull boxes (red and black with "FIRE" in silver) that activate the alarm system. Activation: Staff can activate the alarm box by pulling down the bar (with white letters that say "Pull Down") and release handle.
Fire sprinklers	The department has overhead fire sprinklers located through the area that are triggered under pre-set emergency conditions.
Fire extinguishers	Fire extinguishers are located in the chart rooms of all patient units.

Fire exits

Each fire exit has a lighted, ceiling-mounted "EXIT" sign above it. Fire exit stairwells are located as follows:

At each elevator lobby

At the end of each main corridor

On each patient care unit

Fire location unknown

Nursing staff do the following in case the fire location is unknown:

Gather all the patients together in the day area with staff.

	Close doors to patient rooms and standby for further instructions.
	Secure patient’s medical records in locked medication room in the event that evaluation is required.

If "Code Red All Clear" is announced four times in succession, return to the unit schedule and assigned duties and open the doors.

Fire discovered prior to the alarm

This table describes what the nursing staff do in case of fire in the unit:

Stage	Person Responsible	Description
1	A registered nurse	Assesses the situation If the fire cannot be extinguished immediately, sounds the alarm Notifies immediate staff Gathers the patients into one area of the unit away from the fire site Notifies the following: Nurse Manager or designee on the 7-3 shift, Monday through Friday Nursing Supervisor on the 3-ll and 11-7 shifts, and on weekends and holidays Notifies Security at extension RACE (7223) and gives the following information: Their name Location Extent and type of fire
2	The nursing supervisor	Assumes responsibility for overseeing and directing the fire safety procedures until relieved by the Administrator or as directed Notifies the Administrator-on-Call
3	Security	Notifies the Fire Department if their assistance is necessary

Evacuation due to fire

If evacuation of the building becomes necessary, all nursing staff and patients must assemble in the fenced-in exercise area, or the building next to HCPC where HWE and the gym are located.

Code red announced over the P.A. system

If a "Code Red" is announced over the P.A. System with or without the accompanying fire alarm, follow the directions under "Fire location unknown."

Related Standards

Related to regulatory standards

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