P-288 Prepare, prevent, respond: improving fire safety and awareness

Abstract

Background Following a number of high profile fires in 2017, most notably Grenfell Tower and Cameron House in Scotland, St Catherine’s Hospice reviewed its fire safety awareness and prevention training to ensure all staff and volunteers were updated. Aims and objectives A plan was drafted to ensure everyone was more fire safety aware and to create a cultural shift – fire safety is everyone’s responsibility. Method Three memorable words were used to promote this: Prepare; Prevent; Respond. Prepare Have in place robust policies and evacuation procedures. Training for staff and volunteers. Assistance provided by trained fire wardens. All fire detection is inspected, maintained and tested. Prevent Good housekeeping standards. Workplace inspections conducted. Fire risk assessments in place and issues addressed. Third party audits conducted. Respond Evacuation training. Role play training for fire commanders, nursing staff and fire wardens. Regular drills conducted. Five common breaches at the hospice were also highlighted and used in a poster campaign. A training programme was developed to improve understanding, combat complacency of staff and volunteers when breaching fire regulations and encourage responsibility amongst everyone. Results Bespoke training sessions for: managers, fire wardens, fire commanders, staff and volunteers at Spring Staff Seminars. A number of the training sessions focused on behavioural safety and left many people speechless following the presentation. Some of the training was focused on responsibility and potential sanctions that can be imposed, which focused the minds. Conclusion/impact We have conducted various role play scenarios aimed at getting patients out of the hospice in the event of a fire. The hospice is an old building which has it own challenges but these have been met with eagerness to ensure we have robust procedures in place. All the training sessions were met with positivity and support.