There are four essential Rescue

persons in immediate danger.

Contain
fire by closing all doors in the fire area.
steps to take if you
discover a fire: In a health care facility, rescue usually When everyone has been removed from
means moving the person from the area the room that contains the fire, close the
of the fire to another area inside the door(s) to the room. Closing the door(s)
facility. The goal should be to get everyone accomplishes two things:
Rescue out of the room, not out of the building,
unless the fire spreads and evacuation of
1. The fire and smoke are contained in the
room and prevented from spreading to
the facility becomes necessary.
other areas; and
After the occupants are rescued from the
2. The sprinkler system will be activated
room on fire, the next step is to move the
sooner. (The sprinkler system is heat
Alarm people in adjoining rooms: the rooms on
either side of the fire room, the room
across the hall and the rooms above and
sensitive and activates when the air
temperature reaches a pre-set level. The
air temperature will rise faster if the doors
below the fire room.
are closed).

Contain
Alarm
must be sounded.
Extinguish
small fires.

Sounding the alarm is the quickest way to If the rescue, alarm and contain procedures

Extinguish get help. It alerts other staff members and

initiates the process that alerts the fire
department.
have been followed and the fire department
has not arrived, try to extinguish small fires
using one of the following techniques:
Extra care should be taken by those 1. Smothering it;
working in high noise areas, such as the 2. Using a fire extinguisher; or
These four steps must be laundry, to ensure everyone in the area is 3. Pouring water on it (unless it is an
accomplished to successfully aware that there is a fire. electrical or grease fire).
deal with a fire emergency. The Most serious health care facility fires can If the fire cannot be extinguished, leave
order they are performed will vary be traced to a delay in sounding the alarm the area and close the door.
according to the circumstances. and failure to close doors.
PREPARING FOR EMERGENCIES WHEN NOT TO FIGHT A FIRE:
Every health care facility should have
a complete fire plan.
In the following situations, you should
not fight a fire with a portable extinguisher: Fire Safety
The facility must have regular fire drills
so the staff knows what to do in an
emergency.
If the fire is spreading beyond the for
starting point;
Employees should: If it is already a large fire; Healthcare
If the fire could block your escape
Know the location of two fire
alarm pull-boxes in their work
route;
If you are unsure how to operate
Employees
area;
the extinguisher; or
If you are in doubt whether the
Be able to find and operate fire extinguisher is proper for the type
alarm pull-boxes in the dark; of fire at hand. R escue
Know where portable fire
extinguishers are located and
learn how and when to use them;

DIVISION OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL

A larm
Know where exits are; 8895 EAST MAIN STREET
REYNOLDSBURG, OH 43068
(614) 752-7115
1-888-243-0305
TTY/TDD: 1-800-750-0750
Take care never to block an exit;
and
www.com.ohio.gov/fire/

Ted Strickland
Governor
C ontain
Kimberly A. Zurz
Know how to shut off oxygen and Director of Commerce

other piped gas systems, if (and Michael P. Bell

State Fire Marshal
only if) they are instructed to do
so. An Equal Opportunity Employer and Service Provider E xtinguish