Fire Prevention
The following products are most often linked with the cause of a fire.
Home Heating Devices
Cigarette Lighters
Upholstered Furniture
Matches
Preventing a fire is better than fighting one. One effective fire safety measure is to install a fire alarm, especially near bedroom and kitchen areas. If you have a fire alarm, make sure it is working. Test the battery monthly.
Preparedness
In order to be prepared for a fire, follow the tips outlined below
- Identify the nearest emergency exit. Be familiar with escape routes.
- Have an emergency plan ready and practice leaving the building. Practice in darkness or using blindfolds.
- Install smoke alarms on each floor, especially next to sleeping areas.
- Check fire alarm battteries monthly and replace them every six months.
- Have a fire extinguisher ready, especially in kitchen areas and know how to use it.
- If someone uses a wheelchair, consider extra steps: Mount a small personal-use fire extinguisher on the wheelchair and/or keep a flame-resistant blanket nearby.
- Live or sleep near to an exit. Try to sleep on the ground floor if possible. Keep a phone near the bed or wheelchair
Preventing Fire Risks
In order to be prepared for a fire, follow the tips outlined below
Most fires that break out in the home come from one of the following sources: cooking, smoking, heating, electrical appliances.
Follow the tips to ensure your clients are protected against fire:
Cooking
- Never leave a stove unattended while cooking. If you need to step away, turn it off or carry a large spoon with you to remind you that food is on the stove.
- Wear tight-fitting clothing when cooking over an open flame. Keep towels and potholders away from the flame.
- If food or grease catches fire, smother the flames. Slide a lid over the pan and turn off the heat. Do not try to use water to extinguish a grease fire.
- Make sure the stove is kept clean and free of grease buildup. When deep- frying, never fill the pan more than one-third full of oil or fat.
- Turn pot handles away from the front of the stove. Then they cannot be knocked off or pulled down.
- Never put foil or other metals in a microwave oven.
Heating
- Keep electrical space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that can burn, including people. Turn them off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Make sure kerosene heaters are never run-on gasoline or any substitute fuel. Check for adequate ventilation to avoid the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- The heating systems and chimneys should be checked and cleaned once a year by a professional.
- Open fireplaces can be hazardous. They should be covered with tempered glass doors and guarded by a raised hearth 9 to 18 inches high.
- Never store fuel for heating equipment in the home. Keep it outside or in a detached storage shed.
Smoking
- A person should not smoke in bed. Make sure the client is alert when smoking.
- Do not smoke near oxygen or an open flame.
- Do not smoke while under the influence of alcohol or if you are taking prescription drugs that can cause drowsiness or confusion.
- Never leave smoking materials unattended, and collect them in large, deep ashtrays. Soak the ashes in the ashtray before discarding them.
- Check around furniture, especially upholstered furniture, for any discarded or smoldering smoking materials.
Fire and Client Care
- Fire Protection D
- Fire Protection E
Electrical Appliances
- Never use an appliance with exposed wires. Replace any cords that have exposed or broken wires.
- If an appliance begins to smell suspicious or you see smoke, unplug it immediately.
- Never overload extension cords or outlets. Don’t plug in multiple items. Keep extension cords out of traffic areas.
- Electric blankets or heating pads should conform to the appropriate standards and have overheating protection. Do not wash electric blankets repeatedly. This can damage their electrical circuitry.
- Use only tested and certified electrical appliances.
- Turn heating pads off when the person falls asleep.
Oxygen
- Oxygen should not be flowing near open flames or a heat source.
- Don't smoke near oxygen. A client using oxygen should not smoke with tubing in place and oxygen on.
- Oxygen should be at least three feet from an electric space heater.
- Put up signs stating that oxygen is in use and asking visitors not to smoke.
- Secure oxygen tanks so that they cannot be knocked over or be bumped into. Strap the tank to a closet wall or into the backseat of a car in the upright position.
- To move an oxygen tank, carry it or use a cart. Don't knock over or bump the oxygen tank. Don't put the tank on its side to roll it. If the valve is damaged, the tank can act like a torpedo.
Fire Extinguisher Types
It is important that care workers are familiar with the various fire extinguisher categories, and more importantly, how to use them effectively. Fire extinguishers are categorized by the type of fire they put out. If only one extinguisher is available, use an ABC type that will put out most types of fires.
- Class A extinguishers are for combustible materials such as paper and wood.
- Class B are for flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil.
- Class C are for electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets.
NOTE: Never use water to extinguish electrical fires as there is a serious risk of electric shock.
- Twist then Pull the pin from the handle area at the top of the Fire Extinguisher.
- Aim the hose nozzle at the base of the fire. Be at least 10 ft. from the fire.
- Squeeze the lever in order to release the agent.
- Sweep the hose nozzle from side to side at the base of the fire.
Opening a Fire Extinguisher
If a fire breaks out when you are with a client, the first thing you need to do is ensure that the client is safe and then determine if the fire is fightable
Only if you determine that the fire is fightable: retrieve the fire extinguisher and use the T. P.A.S.S. method outlined below:
Do Not Try and Fight the Fire if
- The fire is spreading.
- The type or size of the extinguisher is wrong.
- The fire is too large.
- If you do not know how to use a fire extinguisher.
Module 7 Summary
It is important that care workers know the phone number to use to call for emergency assistance in their locality. It is not always 911. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction to food or medicine. The main symptom of choking is that the individual cannot talk and cough forcefully. Do not do anything if the individual can cough forcefully. The symptoms of a diabetic emergency include hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), slurred speech, uncoordinated movements or unusual changes in behavior.
Symptoms of heat stroke/exhaustion include: warm clammy skin, nausea, weakness, elevated body temperature. The main symptoms of a stroke include weakness or drooping on one side of the face; slurred speech. When an individual experiences a seizure, it is important that its duration is timed. If it lasts more than 5 minutes emergency assistance is required. As a care worker you will spend a lot of time working with elderly clients, so it is important you know how to react should they fall. The three elements of a fire are: oxygen, heat and fuel. To extinguish a fire, you need to take at least one of these elements away.
The three elements of a fire are: oxygen, heat and fuel. To extinguish a fire, you need to take at least one of these elements away.
The most important fire safety measure is to make sure there is a working fire alarm near bedrooms and/or kitchen areas. Test the fire alarm battery monthly.
- Class A fire extinguishers are used to put out fires caused by combustible materials such as paper and wood.
- Class B fire extinguishers are used to put out fires caused by flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil.
- Class C fire extinguishers are used to put out fires caused by electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring circuit breakers and outlets.
- Class ABC fire extinguishers can put out most types of fires.
- Never use water to extinguish electrical fires as there is a risk of electric shock. When using a fire extinguisher, remember the TPASS method: Pull the pin from the handle area at the top of the fire extinguisher; aim the hose nozzle at the base of the fire (be at least 10 ft. away from the fire); squeeze the lever to release the contents; sweep the hose nozzle from side to side, aiming at the base of the fire.