FIRE ACTION NOTICE

IN THE EVENT OF THE FIRE ALARM SOUNDING

STAFF SHOULD FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW:

  • All staff should respond to the sound of the fire alarm by attending the fire panel near Reception to receive instructions from the Fire Marshal. The nominated AUM or NCC on shift will be the Fire Marshal.

(Staff who are attending to service user’s needs should finish any tasks and make residents safe before making their way to the fire panel)

  • All non-care staff present at the time the Fire Alarm sounds are required to attend the fire panel immediately.
  • One member of staff will be designated to telephone the Fire Service immediately by dialling 999 and giving location details and telling them it is a residential/nursing home.
  • The Fire Marshal will then carefully check the fire panel display to discover the location of the detector that has been activated.
  • The Fire Marshal will then send two staff with Walkie Talkie radios to the identified point to check if there is a fire and to report back what they find.
  • Onemember of staff will undertake the role call & where possible a further person will be designated to wait for the Fire Service at top of the drive wearing a high visibility jacket.
  • Those staff who work in areas of the building not immediately close to the location being searched for fire can, depending upon circumstances, return to their duties and check on their residents but remain alert to further instructions.
  • If a fire is discovered the two staff attending should immediately begin horizontal evacuation of residents from the affected compartment after reporting back what they have found to the Fire Marshal who will decide upon any further actions.
  • Upon arrival the Fire Service will take charge and will need to know what stage any evacuation has reached and where staff are located.
  • WHEN STAFF ASSEMBLEAT THE FIRE PANEL THEY NEED TO BE SILENT AND TO RESPOND TO THE FIRE MARSHALS INSTRUCTIONS

Additional notes for Fire Marshal regarding FIRE ACTION NOTICE

Staff who stay to finish a task with a resident should be with you at the fire panel within five minutes. There is no risk to staff or residents during this time due to the fire precautions within the building.

If it becomes obvious very quickly that it is a false alarm (for instance a member of staff may report burning toast) you should inform the Fire Service, if already being called, who may still choose to attend and make checks.

The fire panel should be checked carefully and another member of staff may be asked to check to ensure the full message is understood.

Depending upon time of day there may be reduced staff numbers present. In that case calling the Fire Service and checking for fire are the primary concerns. Meeting the brigade or doing a roll call may not be possible.

When large numbers of staff are present they can return to their wings once you have identified the location of the suspected fire and a search is underway but those staff who work in the affected area will need to stand by in case an evacuation is needed from that area.

There is no immediate risk to anyone in other parts of the building away from the suspected fire. So depending upon circumstances, like time of day and known developments, as long as staff stay alert they can return to their areas of work and comfort residents because you can always shout to them or send someone to keep them informed.

The Fire Service will want to know everything you know once they arrive, including where staff are and what actions you are taking, i.e. what stage has been reached in any evacuation.

Remember – A lot of work has been undertaken to ensure that the building is protected from the affects of a fire. Early detection is possible in every space and each compartment is protected from ground to roof level to stop the spread of smoke and fire. All fire doors close automatically when the alarm is activated and should the detection of a small smouldering fire turn into actual flames the sprinkler system will be activated in the room of origin. This has all been done to give staff time to act. You have, as a minimum, half and hour to take action even if some systems fail. That is why staff can stay to finish tasks and once the location of any problem is indicated they can return to their duties in those areas unaffected and standby for further instructions.