FIRE SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LTC FACILITIES PUBLISHED

VCAL (2/1/2005)

New fire safety recommendations for long term care facilities, including assisted living residences, have just been published by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). The recommendations were developed at an April 2004 roundtable of health care professionals and fire service professionals where discussion focused on resident safety.  The roundtable and report were funded through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

The report outlines the issues and related strategies identified in the following areas: Education, Training and Staffing; Engineering and Technology; Legislation and Codes; and Emergency Response.  Key factors identified to improve resident safety were:  (1) more cooperative training; (2) a movement toward announced fire drills focusing on education and away from unannounced fire drills; (3) collaborative efforts to gain funding to install sprinkler systems in facilities without them; (4) improved consistency in the interpretation of applicable codes by regulators; and (5) an educational campaign on the merits of defend in place procedures. To obtain a copy of the report, logon to www.iafc.org.