Safety and Fire Prevention

All specialized residential settings must have contingency plans for emergencies. You must review these plans and know where they are located. Plans must be available for medical emergency, death of a consumer, missing consumer, emergency lodging, water shortage, inclement weather and flood. You may want to obtain information related to your community emergency plan as well.

Fire extinguishers last only about 8-10 seconds! Fires can and do re-ignite. If you need to use an extinguisher for RESCUE or ESCAPE do it quickly and GET OUT!

What to do if an individual refuses to participate in a fire drill

• If a person refuses you must document your actions, including what you did to determine why the person would not evacuate and what type of verbal encouragement /prompting you used. Do Not Force the Individual To Evacuate! Remain in the home with the individual until everyone has completed the practice drill. An incident report should be completed and the home manager/supervisor should be contacted. The home manager/supervisor will contact the case manager on the next working day to schedule a meeting in the next 3-5 days to review and adjust the individual’s plan of service. This is a problem-solving meeting to identify reasons why the person may be refusing and to offer specific recommendations which staff will use to encourage participation.

Home staff will then schedule another fire drill to “test” the new evacuation plan. If the plan is not successful this process should be repeated until the individual successfully completes a fire drill.

• Practice evacuations may be used to assist with individuals experiencing difficulties participating in "fire drills". "Practice evacuations" may be announced and used to assist with the implementation of a positive behavior supports plan.

• In the event of a real fire the DSP will assist individuals to evacuate and may use physical intervention techniques, blanket drag, clothing drag, two-person seat carry, or other technique that will move the individual safely out of the home and away from danger. The DSP will have to decide quickly in the event of a real fire emergency, and must do what ever is necessary to ensure successful evacuation of all persons in the home.

• At the destination complete a head count and determine if it is necessary to go to the place of safety.

• One staff returns to the house to shut off and reset the alarm (if it is still sounding), they check to make sure the house is safe, and then they give the “all clear” for everyone to return.

• Complete the fire drill log!

It is a good idea to schedule required drills at the beginning of each month. If a drill cannot be completed due to problems with a person in the home such as health concerns, or other issues which may interfere with successful participation. It can still be completed before the end of the month. Fire drills should be scheduled to avoid poor weather conditions. (Drills can be delayed or rescheduled if the DSP staff determine there may be a problem or the drill may cause problems).

Recommended evacuation time in a drill is 3 minutes or less. If evacuation is taking longer than this, the evacuation procedure should be reviewed for possible modification. Staff may need additional training; bedroom changes may be required, etc.

Strategies for Improving Evacuation Times

If you encounter challenges with your evacuation times, the following section outlines common issues that teams may face during evacuations. Whether it's related to timing, destination/meeting place concerns, or other factors, here are key points to take into account.

Timing Issues

• Is everyone timing the drills correctly? The timing starts when the alarm is sounded and stops when the last person steps out of the door. 

• Is a stopwatch being used? Guessing at times is often inaccurate. Watches can be hard to read, especially at night.

Destination/Meeting Place Issues

• Is the destination appropriate for the people in the home? It should not be further than three to five feet from the door. (The destination is where you complete your head count – you need to know if anyone is unaccounted for before you move away from the structure). If there are people who are slow moving or need full assistance, it is better to assemble everyone just outside the door first, and then take the time needed to get people to the place of safety. (Remember timing stops when the last person is out of the door.)

Resident Evacuation Procedure Issues

• Is there a carefully planned procedure for the most efficient evacuation of all occupants? It should take into account assistance needs of the people who live there (are there current e-scores?), and organize staff movements to provide assistance in the most logical sequence.

• If possible and safe, can the people who need the most assistance sleep in bedrooms closest to an exit door?

• Is the procedure reviewed often enough to be sure that there is not a better procedure available? This is especially important if new people have moved in, or if assistance needs have changed in the existing residents.

Staff Training/Competence Issues

• Are all staff trained in the evacuation procedure including actual practice in a fire drill?

• Are all drills evaluated and reviewed with staff, so that changes can be made if someone has found a better procedure?

• Is staff participation in drills monitored so that everyone has had recent practice at implementing the fire evacuation plan?

Resident Skills and Motivation Issues

• Have all the individuals been taught to be as independent as they are physically able to be in evacuating? (If not a good destination training program is available).

• If the problem is that the person could evacuate if they wanted, but they usually don’t want to go, there are programs to increase cooperation. Home staff should discuss this with the case manager/supports coordinator and it should be included in the individual’s plan of service.

• Are drills being held too often, creating resistance in otherwise cooperative people? Minimum frequency is one per shift, per quarter; more frequent drills may generate resistance.

Miscellaneous Issues

• Are there physical plant barriers to efficient evacuation that can be fixed? Some suggestions may be: Changing doors or handles that do not open easily or rearranging furniture to create smooth exit paths. Eliminating doorsills, ramping steps, adding handrails, or improving lighting, may be helpful. These suggestions can make evacuation easier and safer.

• Are you listening to others? Staff who are experiencing problems with the evacuation procedure are often the best people to ask when looking for solutions to improve evacuation time or procedure.

Monitoring Provides Opportunity For Preventative Measures!

___ Are staff trained in alarm/sprinkler system?

___ Is a smoking policy available and in effect?

___ Are safety ashtrays used?

___ Is there documentation of battery-operated smoke detector checks?

___ Is there documentation of yearly battery changes in detectors?

___ Is there a posted diagram of primary and alternate routes?

___ Fire extinguishers – minimum of one per floor and basement?

___ Is the extinguisher a 5 lb. ABC? (A 10 lb. Is Recommended).

___ Is the extinguisher Inspected and labeled monthly by staff?

___ Are hallways, stairways, egress routes clear of obstacles & storage?

___ Do all exit doors open easily?

___ Are all exit doors non-locking to egress?

___ Is the exterior lighting operational?

___ Are exit pads even with grade at exit doors?

___ Is the destination or head count area close to exit (3-5 feet)?

___ Is there a trailing mechanism for people who are blind?

___ Is there a special alarm for people who are deaf?

___ Are stairway handrails secure, steps in good condition?

___ Does the main floor have two separate means of egress?

___ Does the basement (if licensed for use) have 2 means of egress?

___ Do you understand that no portable heaters are allowed – for any reason?

___ If wheelchairs are used is there a ramp at both exits?

___ Is the mechanical room free of stored items?

___ Is the furnace filter clean?

___ Are there heat or smoke detectors in heat producing rooms?

___ Are flammable or combustible items properly stored?

___ Is emergency lighting available?

___ Is the dryer vent solid or flexible metal?

___ Is the dryer filter cleaned after use?

___ Is the stove vent screen clean?

___ Does the oven door shut tightly?

___ Are electrical outlets overloaded?

___ Are there any frayed, hanging or exposed electrical cords?

____ Are there any problems with the dishwasher or other appliances?

Now that you have completed the Environmental Emergencies and Safety and Fire Prevention modules, please proceed to take the test. To successfully complete the course, you must achieve a passing score of 80% or higher.