Fire Safety Program Research Articles

Assessment of Fire Safety Preparedness and Risk Management in Caleb University Hostels

Fire safety in university hostels is a critical concern, particularly in developing countries where resources and awareness may be limited. This study evaluates the effectiveness of fire safety measures in student hostels at Caleb University, Lagos, highlighting the current state of fire safety protocols and identifying areas for improvement. Employing a descriptive research design, the study gathered data from 329 respondents, including students and hostel staff, through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that while basic fire safety measures such as fire extinguishers are present, awareness and confidence in fire safety protocols among students are alarmingly low. A significant percentage of respondents (61.8%) expressed doubts about the effectiveness of existing measures, and only 6.7% reported participating in fire drills or training sessions. Furthermore, the study identified critical weaknesses in the current fire safety protocols, with 56.8% of students having experienced fire-related incidents during their residence. The research underscores the necessity for regular fire safety training, improved equipment maintenance, and enhanced communication of emergency procedures to ensure the safety and preparedness of hostel occupants. Recommendations include implementing mandatory fire drills, increasing the number of safety equipment, and collaborating with local fire authorities to develop comprehensive fire safety programs. This study contributes to the existing literature on fire safety in university settings and emphasizes the need for effective strategies tailored to the unique challenges faced by educational institutions.

Assessment of Fire Safety Measures in On-Campus Housing Facilities

Universities, including Caleb University, offer various on-campus housing options, such as hostels and private residences. Ensuring fire safety in these facilities is paramount for the protection of students, staff, and property. This study investigates the fire safety measures in place at Caleb University's male hostel, examining both the physical infrastructure and the awareness and training of residents and staff. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines a physical inspection of fire safety equipment and infrastructure with semi-structured interviews to assess the comprehensiveness of fire safety protocols and awareness programs. The findings reveal significant gaps in both the awareness and implementation of fire safety measures. Only 33% of the staff and 69% of students are aware of any fire safety programs, and 86% of the staff and 65% of the students lack knowledge of evacuation protocols. These deficiencies highlight the need for structured and mandatory fire safety training, regular drills, and clear communication of evacuation procedures. Recommendations include the development of comprehensive fire safety programs, integration of fire safety education into the curriculum, regular maintenance of fire safety equipment, and partnerships with local fire safety authorities. Implementing these measures can improve the safety and preparedness of Caleb University’s residential facilities, providing a safer living environment for all residents.

Assessment of Fire Safety Management for Special Needs Schools in South Africa

The safety and well-being of learners with special educational needs in South Africa remain a paramount concern, significantly impacting their constitutional rights and dignity. Despite legislative commitments aimed at fostering inclusive education, a pervasive absence of adequate fire safety measures in special needs schools (SNSs) in South Africa has persisted, leading to the vulnerability of these learners. Tragic incidents, such as fatal fires in these schools, as reported in the literature, underscore the urgent need for immediate intervention to ensure the safety and security of these learners, especially with regards to fire hazards. This study, conducted within the Northwest Province of South Africa, assessed the state of fire safety management in SNSs by applying a series of chi-squared (χ2) tests of independence for categorical variables, descriptive statistics, and regression analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), Version 20 and found that limited access to power is the potential root cause of fires in these schools; also, the limited amount of fire safety initiatives was a problem. In addition, the ordinal regression showed a statistically significant relationship when the question of to what extent the learners in the sampled schools are involved in fire safety programs was regressed with the questions of whether management and stakeholders were involved in fire safety programs and also on taking part in the physical fire safety programs (χ2 = 47.412; df = 2; p < 0.001; R2 = 70.5%). Furthermore, fire safety management was not sufficiently implemented in the sampled schools and the safety legislations of the country were not implemented accordingly when it came to fire safety. This study identified root causes of fire risks, gauged stakeholders’ awareness and involvement in fire safety management, and advocated for more stringent safety policies and practices within the SNS based on the above findings.

Baldia Factory Fire Tragedy: A Black Spot for Workplace Safety Standards in Pakistan.

The Baldia Factory (BF) fire incident in Pakistan was among the most tragic workplace fires in the world claiming the lives of more than 259 people. A case study was conducted to evaluate the state of the safety measures, firefighting systems, building regulations, employees' documentation, and compensation structures. The case study found many deficiencies in the fire safety program and lack of adherence to and enforcement of existing fire regulations. Findings are discussed in the context of fire safety regulations and enforcement in low- and middle-income countries such as Pakistan.

Critical analysis of fire incidents and self-assessment of fire safety program in a tertiary care hospital of India: an observational study

Background: Self-assessment of fire safety provides valuable insights for framing a robust fire safety program for hospitals by identifying gaps and taking corrective measures. The study was performed to (i) critically analyse fire incidents which occurred in the hospital and (ii) assess fire safety program of the hospital. Methods: A critical analysis of 3 fire incidents which occurred in hospital was performed. Further review of records regarding all fire incident reports was performed for last 4.5 years and analysed for cause, site, timing, triggering factor and firefighting. For the second objective, fire safety mechanisms in hospital were compared with national accreditation board of hospital checklist and national building code 2016 part 4 “fire and life safety” guideline. Results: It was found that a total of 44 incidents of fire occurred over a period of four and a half years from January 2019 to July 2023, of which 42 were minor, confined fires while two were major and non confined fires. Electrical cause was found in 48.84% of fire incidents, 37% occurred in external areas, 41% in the morning shift hours and in 51.16% incidents clean agent was used for extinguishing the fire. In 93.18% incidents, trained hospital security extinguished the fire. Average reporting time was 1.23 minutes and mean time taken to act and extinguish the fire completely was 10 minutes. Conclusions: Critical analysis of fire safety using records of fire incidents and comparison with guidelines helps hospitals in self assessment of their fire safety plans and guides in filling lacunae.

545 “After The Fire: Legacy of A College Dormitory Fire Twenty Years Later"

IntroductionIn January 2000 fire erupted at a local college. Panicked students, many who failed to attend school-sponsored fire drills or simply ignored alarms, found themselves scrambling to escape. Seven students were admitted to a burn center (BC) for critical burns, with 54 initially staged in the Medical Center Emergency Department. While this dormitory fire took place more than twenty years ago, its legacy is still being felt today.MethodsHistory shows that, with any tragedy, there are lessons to be learned to lessen the impact on property destruction, injury or death. Looking at the legacy of this fire, four key areas of improvement emerged: disaster preparedness, media relations, legislation and fire prevention.ResultsChanges to disaster preparedness include an expanded, more comprehensive response plan, revised triage and transfer protocols, BC staffing protocols, creation of a regional group of BCs, which eventually morphed into a Disaster Consortium, and a medical command center for regional disaster response. A series of articles resulted in a Pulitzer Prize-finalist book, documenting the journey of two of the survivors, with award-winning photographs displayed at a national museum. Redesigned fire safety programs emphasizing escape plans and the dangers of false alarms now targets high school and college students, an often overlooked group, and clinical education programs have expanded to include nursing’s role in disasters, reinforced with a functional exercise. Two survivors are motivational speakers, continuing to share their personal story on campuses across the United States. New legislation mandated sprinkler installation in dormitories nationwide, and a non-profit foundation was formed to improve burn care. The anniversary of this fire is commemorated annually on campus to serve as a powerful reminder for new generations of students.ConclusionsDespite this dormitory fire being ranked as the deadliest in state history, all these years later the legacy of this landmark event remains one of triumph and resilience, as its impact is still evident today. These lessons serve as the foundation for improved disaster response, locally, regionally and nationally.

Elderly about home fire safety: A qualitative study into home fire safety knowledge and behaviour

Elderly people are a high-risk group when it comes to fire in their homes and interventions are needed. A needs assessment regarding fire safe behaviour was conducted to 1) establish the perspectives of adults aged 65 years and older concerning fire-related topics, and 2) inform the design of fire safety programs. Qualitative interviews were conducted to study fire safety knowledge and fire safe behaviour among elderly in their home situation. The findings showed that participants lack detailed knowledge about risk behaviours that might cause a fire and their knowledge is limited to sources of fire or moments at which a fire can occur. However, elderly people do take preventive measures such as installing smoke alarms and planning an escape route. Determinants that are found to influence fire safe behaviour among elderly people are risk perception, self-efficacy, habits, and perceived barriers such as physical disabilities. Elderly perceive the risk of home fires as low while feeling confident in their abilities to act in case of a fire. This study broadens the field of fire safety by focusing on behaviours of elderly people and the underlying determinants, but more (quantitative) research is needed to confirm our findings.

563 “After the Fire”; The Legacy of a College Dormitory Fire Twenty Years Later

Abstract Introduction In January 2000 fire erupted at a local college. Panicked students, many who failed to attend school-sponsored fire drills or ignored the alarms that night, found themselves scrambling to escape. Seven students were admitted for severe burns to a near-by burn center (BC), with 54 initially staged in the Emergency Department. While this dormitory fire took place more than twenty years ago, its legacy is still being felt today. Methods History shows that, with any tragedy, there are lessons to learn that lessen the impact of property destruction, injury or death. Literature review of several major fires looked at their impact promoting burn care and fire safety to correlate those lessons with this fire. Four key areas of improvement emerged: disaster preparedness, media relations, legislation, and fire prevention. Results Changes to BC disaster preparedness included formation of a more comprehensive plan, revisions to triage and transfer protocols, new guidelines for unit staffing, creation of a mid-Atlantic group of BCs that eventually morphed into the Eastern Regional Burn Disaster Consortium, and installation of a medical command center for regional disaster response. Media relations saw a collaboration with law enforcement, due to criminal investigation, and a partnership with a syndicated newspaper to document the journey of two survivors. A series of articles eventually resulted in a Pulitzer Prize-finalist book, with award winning photographs displayed at a national museum. Redesigned fire safety programs targeted high school and college students emphasizing escape plans, and clinical education included disaster drills. Two survivors became motivational speakers, sharing their personal story on campuses across the United States. New legislation mandated sprinkler installation in dormitories nationwide, and a non-profit foundation was formed to improve burn care. The anniversary of this fire is still commemorated each year with a ceremony and wreath-laying on campus. Conclusions Despite this dormitory fire being ranked as the deadliest in state history, all these years later the legacy of this landmark event remains one of triumph and resilience as its lessons still to resonate today

Implementation of Technosphere and Fire Safety Program (TFSP) to Increase Production Efficiency and Minimize Losses

Technosphere and Fire Safety Program (TFSP) is a production program whose main goal is to achieve maximum compliance with environmental laws, meet the requirements of safety standards and norms, maintain production equipment throughout its entire life cycle by engaging and motivating participation in this program throughout work force. The main three goals of the TFSP are: minimization of manufacturing defects, breakdowns and emergencies. According to this program, these goals can be achieved by taking measures aimed at improving the efficiency of equipment, creating an autonomous maintenance program, creating a planned maintenance system, organizing training courses for workers and developing an enterprise management system. The article considers the possibility of introducing technosphere and fire safety programs (TFSP) in industry. At the first stage, possible losses and factors contributing to these losses were determined. The general indicators of technosphere safety are affected by eight major production losses associated with equipment, which include equipment breakdowns, adjustment and commissioning, component replacement, production line start-up, idling, speed, manufacturing defects, and unplanned shutdowns. At the second stage of the introduction of the TFSP, a scheduled maintenance program was proposed with the aim of creating a smooth production process with minimizing technosphere risks.

Evaluation of a Falls and Fire Safety Program for Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Remembering When™ (RW) is a falls and fire prevention program delivered by fire service personnel and homecare organizations to help older adults live safely at home for as long as possible. This study evaluated changes in falls prevention and fire safety behaviors and perceptions and social support associated with falls and residential fires among older adults following delivery of the RW program by fire service personnel. In a convenience sample of adults 65 + years residing in five Iowa communities, 70 received the RW program during a home visit and 75 received the RW program in a group presentation followed by a home visit. Baseline and follow-up telephone interviews were conducted to assess changes in falls and fire safety behaviors, perceptions and social support. Changes were assessed using McNemar's exact test and paired sample t-tests. To control for dependence of 26 households with two participants, one participant was randomly selected and included in the analysis (n = 119). The RW program improved falls and residential fire prevention behaviors among older adults. Perceived efficacy to prevent falls increased from baseline (p = 0.047). Perceived susceptibility (p = 0.021) and control of fires (p = 0.000) increased while perceived severity (p = 0.025) and fear of residential fires (p = 0.019) decreased when compared to baseline. The proportion of participants reporting discussing falls with friends and family increased (p < 0.001), and more participants reported discussing fire prevention with healthcare professionals (p = 0.039). Fire service personnel can be effective deliverers of falls prevention information to older adults.

The Effect of a Home Fire Safety Program on Fire Safety Knowledge and Behavior of Community-Dwelling Older Adults and their Family Caregivers

The Effect of a Home Fire Safety Program on Fire Safety Knowledge and Behavior of Community-Dwelling Older Adults and their Family Caregivers

Association between neighbourhood socioeconomic features and residential fire incidence, related casualties and children: a cross-sectional population-based study in 4 Canadian provinces.

This study assessed whether socioeconomic factors affect the rates of residential fire incidence and fire-related injuries and deaths, and whether children are affected differently than the general population. We employed a cross-sectional study design using data for British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario from the National Fire Information Database, which includes fire incidents and losses reported by provincial fire marshals across Canada between 2005 and 2015. It also contains 2011 census subdivision social domain data from Statistics Canada based on fire location. Multivariable negative binomial regressions tested the significance of relations between census subdivision socioeconomic factors (average household size, educational attainment, median income and unemployment rate) and the rates of residential fires and casualties per person-year, and casualties per fire incident. Census subdivisions with higher educational attainment and unemployment rates had higher rates of residential fires (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.10, and IRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.18-1.31, respectively) and of residential fire casualties per person-year (IRR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.13, and IRR 1.29, 95% CI 1.20-1.40, respectively). Census subdivisions with smaller average households had higher rates of residential fire casualties per person-year (IRR 0.43, 95% CI 0.22-0.83) and per fire incident (IRR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58-0.97), and the association was even stronger for children (IRR 0.17, 95% CI 0.08-0.36, and IRR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.86, respectively). The results suggest that efforts to prevent residential fires should be prioritized in neighbourhoods with higher educational attainment and unemployment, whereas house fire safety programs should be intensified in neighbourhoods with smaller households to prevent fire casualties, especially among children, once a fire does occur.

Electrical and Fire Safety in the OR

In the OR, electrical shocks and fire represent two very important risks and they occur more commonly than most people recognize. Electrical and fire safety in the OR is every team member’s responsibility. Prevention is the first step, but when incidents occur, optimal outcomes depend on concerted efforts. Thisapproach, along with a comprehensive electrical and fire safety program, is a continued effort to create a safer healthcare environment for every worker and patient. Understanding the basic principles of electricity and fire safety is the first step towards this goal. Unfortunately, many institutions do not involve the key players (surgery and anesthesia department members) in the education and preparation process. By involving all team members, optimal outcomes for patients at this vulnerable time may be achieved. Our patients expect us to know the risks and management of these potentially life-threatening occurrences. This chapter endeavours to facilitate these goals. This review contains 9 figures, 3 tables, and 51 references Keywords: electrosurgical unit, fire extinguisher, ground fault circuit interrupter, grounding, ignition source, line isolation monitor, macroshock, microshock, Ohm law

Modelling static fire hazard in a semi-arid region using frequency analysis

Various fire hazard rating systems have been used by many countries at strategic and tactical levels for fire prevention and fire safety programs. Assigning subjective weight to parameters that cause fire hazard has been widely used to model wildland fire hazard. However, these methods are sensitive to experts’ judgements because they are independent of any statistical approaches. Therefore, in the present study, we propose a wildland fire hazard method based on frequency analysis (i.e. a probability distribution model) to identify the locations of fire hazard in north-eastern Iran, which has frequent fire. The proposed methodology uses factors that do not change or change very slowly over time to identify static fire hazard areas, such as vegetation moisture, slope, aspect, elevation, distance from roads and proximity to settlements, as essential parameters. Several probability distributions are assigned to each factor to show the possibility of fire using non-linear regressions. The results show that approximately 86% of MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) hot spot data are located truly in the high fire hazard areas as identified in the present study and the most significant contributing factor to fire in Golestan Province, Iran, is elevation. The present study also reveals that approximately 14% of the total study area (~20 368 km2) has a fire hazard of 66%, which can be considered very high. Therefore, this area – located mostly in the central, west and north-east regions of Golestan Province – should be considered for an effective conservation strategy of wildland fire.

Using GIS to Evaluate a Fire Safety Program in North Carolina

Evaluating program impact is a critical aspect of public health. Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a novel way to evaluate programs which try to reduce residential fire injuries and deaths. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the application of GIS within the evaluation of a smoke alarm installation program in North Carolina. This approach incorporates national fire incident data which, when linked with program data, provides a clear depiction of the 10years impact of the Get Alarmed, NC! program and estimates the number of potential lives saved. We overlapped Get Alarmed, NC! program installation data with national information on fires using GIS to identify homes that experienced a fire after an alarm was installed and calculated potential lives saved based on program documentation and average housing occupancy. We found that using GIS was an efficient and quick way to match addresses from two distinct sources. From this approach we estimated that between 221 and 384 residents were potentially saved due to alarms installed in their homes by Get Alarmed, NC!. Compared with other program evaluations that require intensive and costly participant telephone surveys and/or in-person interviews, the GIS approach is inexpensive, quick, and can easily analyze large disparate datasets. In addition, it can be used to help target the areas most at risk from the onset. These benefits suggest that by incorporating previously unutilized data, the GIS approach has the potential for broader applications within public health program evaluation.

Nursing students practice primary fire prevention

The purpose of this project was to evaluate a standardized, interactive, home fire safety program for elementary school students. BackgroundSenior baccalaureate nursing students in their pediatric clinical rotation taught burn prevention techniques using Hazard House, a model house filled with common household fire hazards (Hazard House, 2006, Ref. 1). Elementary school students were encouraged to identify the hazards and discuss ways in which the house could be made safer. Local firemen then briefly presented what to do if a fire occurred, how firemen may look during a rescue, and the importance of working smoke alarms in the home. MethodsA pretest–posttest design was used to examine the effectiveness of an educational intervention. The three groups of participants included 128 kindergarten students, 311 students in grades 1–2, and 61 students in grades 3–4. The tests and interventions were tailored appropriately for each age group. ResultsThere was no difference in pre- and post-test scores for the students in kindergarten and grades 3–4 (p>0.05). However, there was a significant difference for students in grades 1–2 (p<0.001). ConclusionIt is important for nurses to assess for and teach about fire injury prevention to prevent potentially devastating irreversible injuries. The results suggest that the educational intervention was effective in improving the understanding of fire safety for students in grades 1–2. Future studies may need to include a larger sample of students for the other grades.

The Development of the Residential Fire H.E.L.P. Tool Kit

This article describes the development of the Fire H.E.L.P. tool kit for training selected Meals On Wheels (MOW) staff in Texas to implement a fire safety program for homebound older adults. We used a formative evaluation approach during the tool kit's development, testing, and initial implementation stages. The tool kit includes instructional curricula on how to implement Fire H.E.L.P., a home assessment tool to determine a residence's smoke alarm needs, and fire safety educational materials. During the tool kit's pilot test, MOW participants showed enhanced fire safety knowledge and high levels of confidence about applying their newfound training skills. After the pilot test, MOW staff used the tool kit to conduct local training sessions, provide fire safety education, and install smoke alarms in the homes of older adults. We believe the approach used to develop this tool kit can be applied to education efforts for other, related healthy home topics.

Fire-related Deaths Among Aboriginal People in British Columbia, 1991–2001

Fire-related mortality rates are known to be higher in Aboriginal people in BC. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology and context of fire-related deaths in this population. All death registrations attributable to fires in the province were identified by the B.C. Vital Statistics Agency (1991-2001). Age-specific death rates (ASDR) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) were calculated for Status Indians and other residents. Data from Coroner's reports from the B.C. Coroners' Service (1997-2001) were used to describe the context of Aboriginal fire-related deaths. The overall fire-related ASMR for Status Indians and other residents were 0.66 deaths and 0.07 deaths/10,000 population respectively. Annual ASMR for both populations were constant over the study period. ASDR were higher in every age category for Status Indians; children and seniors had higher rates in both populations. Twenty-seven Aboriginal fatalities (20 fires) were identified for the contextual analysis. Key findings were: 48% of the total sample had elevated blood alcohol levels; 30% of the fires were caused by lit cigarettes (majority of decedents were intoxicated); 15% of the fires were caused by electric heating sources; at least 34% of fires occurred in homes with absent or non-functional smoke alarms. Fire-related mortality among Aboriginal people in BC is a preventable public health concern. In this population, fire safety and prevention programs should consider improving the prevalence of functioning smoke alarms, promoting the safe use of heat sources, and decreasing smoking behaviours and the use of alcohol.

Improving the Retention of Fire Safety and Burn Prevention Programs in a University Fraternity System

On Mother's Day/Graduation Day of 1996 a fire in a fraternity house killed five college juniors and injured three other undergraduate students. The tragedy attracted national attention and led to the creation of the 2001 College Fire Prevention Act. By 2004 however, the tragedy was no longer a recent memory to current fraternity members and they were cited by the local fire department for covering a smoke detector in their fraternity house. Consequently, the University Honor System contacted the Burn Center and requested that fraternity members tour the center as part of their correction for honor code violations related to blocking the smoke detector system. We used this incident to renew interest and re-emphasize the importance of burn safety to college students in the University system. We developed a unique collaborative intervention with our Burn Center, the Greek system, the local fire department, and our burn survivor community. We obtained approval to implement the intervention from the University Honor System and then met with fraternity members.

“Fishing for Burn Prevention”

"Fishing for Burn Prevention" is an interactive educational burn and fire safety program designed to stimulate family involvement at health fairs, and it provides an alternative to handing out safety information. The program attracts preschoolers through preteens and is staffed by burn center personnel. The design consists of a small pool, a wooden fishing rod, several cutout fish, and hook-and-loop fasteners. Words that will stimulate interaction between the presenter and the participant are written on the fish; these can include "smoke detector," "cool the burn," "fire escape plan," "matches," "grease fire," and "120 degrees F." Providing an interactive, hands-on activity at health fairs can increase burn and fire safety awareness for the entire family.