BJC Fire Safety Flashcards

Fire Safety Measures

• Evacuate ambulatory patients first during an emergency.
• Lateral (horizontal) evacuation involves moving everyone affected by fire to a safe area on the same floor.
• Smoke/fire doors should remain closed during a fire to prevent smoke and flames from spreading.
• Use elevators for non-ambulatory patients if available during a vertical evacuation.
• Sprinkler systems activate automatically when detecting heat, aiding in fire control.
• BJC implements interim life safety measures at construction sites to maintain safety standards.

Fire Response Protocol

• The immediate action upon discovering a fire is to remove or rescue anyone in danger.
• Ensuring all patients are evacuated and confirming completion of the evacuation is crucial.
• The first step in using a fire extinguisher is to pull the pin to enable use.
• BJC hospitals are built with a compartmental design to protect patients in place and contain fires effectively.

Hand Hygiene Compliance

• Washing hands is necessary even if only changing gloves.
• Common breaches in hand hygiene include missing fingertips and inadequate lathering with soap.
• Change gloves and perform hand hygiene when transitioning from soiled to clean body sites, if gloves are visibly soiled, or if gloves are damaged.
• Artificial nails are not permitted, even if maintained regularly, due to hygiene concerns.

Hand Hygiene Guidelines

• The "5 Moments of Hand Hygiene" includes:
  • Before touching a patient
  • After contact with blood or bodily fluids
  • After handling papers
  • After interacting with the patient's environment
• Use soap and water for hand hygiene when hands are visibly soiled.
• Immediate investigation and correction occur upon detection of non-compliance with hygiene protocols.