Page 72 - 2020 ARE eGuide for Clinical at Bethesda
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Fire Safety
Rule of thumb: if you need more than one fire
extinguisher, you are facing a large fire; therefore allow
trained internal and external responders to extinguish
the fire.
Horizontal and Lateral Evacuation of Patients
When it becomes necessary to evacuate, we use Horizontal / Lateral Evacuation. By doing
this, affected individuals are moved first to an adjacent smoke compartment across
(horizontal) then to another floor (lateral) using stairwells if necessary.
In event of a small fire, patients should be left in their rooms with the door closed.
Evacuation is used in extreme cases and only called by the CEO and AHJ (Authority Having
Jurisdiction).
At nonhospital sites, staff should go to the their meeting place and wait until you get the
all clear from the fire department.
