Fire Safety

Health care providers must know three basic facts about fires: how they start, how to prevent them, and how to respond when they occur. Fires need three things in order to start: Fire Triangle

Oxygen: present in the air
Fuel: any material that will burn
Heat: sparks, matches, flames

The major cause of fires is carelessness with smoking and with matches. Other causes include misuse of electricity (overloaded circuits, frayed electrical wires, improperly grounded plugs), defects in heating systems, spontaneous ignition, improper rubbish disposal, and arson.

Read the following chapter about responding to emergencies in health care settings.

Chapter 8 Responding to Emergencies.pdf

Now that you've read about the types of emergencies that occur in health settings, watch this video on emergency preparedness.

Emergency Preparedness Video :: Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

Click Next to take your safety test.