Fire Safety: The importance of being prepared
Now that the weather is starting to get nice and there is less chance of rain, it's a good idea to start planning for your yearly required fire drill during sleeping hours.
While conducting a fire drill is required at least every 90 days (every 60 days for first-year operators in Multnomah County), there is one drill that is required to be done during sleeping hours.
The key to your fire drills being successful is to be prepared. You may have heard the saying, “practice makes perfect.” I have also heard it said that “perfect practice makes perfect.” Either way, the goal of practicing is to make sure that if and when the time comes, you have already planned and practiced so you are prepared. I believe that the best way to accomplish this is to be purposeful about what you are doing, no matter what you are practicing for.
To prepare for your fire drills:
Make sure you have a good fire escape plan and follow it. Create a plan for each resident based on their abilities and assistance needed, and outline how caregivers need to assist each resident to the initial point of safety;
Make sure you have communicated with your staff and residents what the plan is so they are ready to follow it. You should conduct "tabletop exercises" with staff to talk through a drill and go over their duties in a fire emergency;
Take the time to be prepared, make sure that everyone knows the primary escape routes and initial and final points of safety; and
Have all the items you need to take with you in a safe place so it is ready to go in case of an emergency. Make sure you have all the contact information you need.
Being prepared is like having an insurance policy - you only need it when you need it, but you'll be glad you're ready if the time comes. Being ready for emergencies shouldn’t be something you only think about every 90 days. Make sure you put the time and effort in to be prepared. When an emergency happens, you want to be prepared!
