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Phillip Simmons
Member - 1 post
When considering the advisability of staff being trained and authorised to use fire fighting aids - 'if confident and if it is safe to do so' - most comments originate from office or factory based staff. Can I 'throw in' the added complication of residential care homes, where residents are now much more elderly frail, mentally frail or recieving nursing care.
The RRO requires that the responsible person has systems and proceedures in place to enable the staff to evacuate all perosns to a place of safety - 'without relying on assistance from fire and rescue'. Clearly, it is entirely likely that the fire and rescue services will arrive in a timely manner and put the fire out, but if there is any delay, the staff must be in a position to complete the evacuation.
This brings me to the use of fire extinguishers. In the event of a care home, given the difficulties likely to be encountered assisting a number of frail residents, would it not be much better to train staff to fight small fires. Clearly, evacuation drills should continue until the fire and resue services confirm that the home is safe, but perhaps, suitable and sufficient training of staff could save lives?
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