Social Services Fire Plan

Introduction

Date of Last Review 10/13/08
SME: Director of Social Services

To ensure patient and staff safety, The Social Services department has established a fire plan for fire emergencies.

Staff responsibilities

Social Services staff responsibilities are as follows:

Be familiar with and use the UTHCPC Fire Plan procedures

Make every effort to ensure the safety of all patients, volunteers and staff in the event of a fire emergency or drill

Fire detectors/
alarm

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 activates the alarm system.

Activation of alarm:
Staff can activate the alarm box by pulling down the bar (with white letters that say "Pull Down") and release handle.

Fire stairway exits

Fire stairway 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

Department stairway exit:
The fire exit stairway for the department is for each staff member, the nearest exit during the event and/or nearest your office.

Fire discovery

All staff in the Social Services department must respond to any fire situation by doing the following:

Stage	Description
1	If fire and/or smoke is detected in the department, assess the situation
2	Alert the supervisor and other staff in the area
3	Use this table to identify the process to follow in case of fire in the department or in other departments: IF the fire... THEN... Is small and can be contained Example: Fire in a trash can Attempt to put out the fire using a fire extinguisher Is not small and cannot be contained Leave the department Close all doors Sound the alarm by using the manual fire alarm station by the stairway Stand by for instructions from Security who will respond to the alarm Location is unknown and the alarm sounds Close the door Standby for further instructions
4	Use this table to identify the next action: IF... THEN... Instructed to leave the work area Close the door after leaving the office and calmly proceed to the contract parking lot across from UTHCPC. A "Code Red, All Clear" is announced Return to normal duty.

Staff in a patient care unit

In the event the alarm sounds while a staff member from the Social Services department is on a patient care unit, s/he must follow the specific fire plan for the unit.

Evacuation due to fire

If evacuation of the building becomes necessary, all Social Services staff must assemble on the employee parking lot.

Fire alarm in another zone with patients

Staff do the following in case of a fire alarm in another zone that has patients:

Fire alarm in another zone without patients

Staff do the following in case of a fire alarm in another zone that does not have patients:

Staff close all doors and turn off appliances and lights

All staff remain in clinic areas until "All Clear" is sounded or staff are instructed to move to another area to help with patient movement

Fire alarm in this zone/patients in clinic

Staff with patients will gather the patients and move them to the nearest safe fire zone.

Patient return

If the patients' units can be reached safely without crossing the fire zone, staff can return the patients to their units.

Related Standard

Related to regulatory standards

If you have questions regarding the content of this site please contact the Policy and Procedure Committee. If you experience any technical problems please contact the MIS Department.