Well being Ministry, NDMA problem joint advisory to stop summer season hospital fires | Well being Information

Because the temperature rises throughout summer season, the specter of hospital fires will increase accordingly. To deal with the difficulty, the Union Ministry of Health and Household Welfare and the Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Authority (NDMA) on Saturday issued a joint advisory to all states and union territories (UTs) to stop potential hospital fires throughout the summer season months.

In a joint letter addressed to chief secretaries of all states and UT administrations, Health secretary Apurva Chandra and member and head of division (HOD), NDMA, Kamal Kishore, emphasised that hospital fires can grow to be a big risk within the face of escalating temperatures. 

The Health secretary requested the state Health departments and state catastrophe administration authorities to work in collaboration to make sure that all accredited hospitals of their jurisdictions instantly undertake thorough inspections and tackle discrepancies in electrical load audits. 

The letter enclosed an in depth set of directions outlining the measures to be taken by hospitals to make sure hearth security compliance. The directives embrace workers coaching, hearth security drills and routine inspection, upkeep and testing of fireplace security gear resembling hearth extinguishers, hydrants, and alarms. 

“All hospitals also needs to yearly renew legitimate hearth no objection certificates (NOCs) and different compliances from respective state hearth departments”, the joint advisory stated.

The advisory additionally instructed all hospitals to implement strict no-smoking insurance policies and controls on warmth sources in areas with oxygen tanks or piped oxygen. Hospitals also needs to commonly evaluate and replace their infrastructure to adjust to the most recent hearth security requirements outlined within the Nationwide Constructing Code, 2016.

Hospitals have been requested to prioritise recalibration {of electrical} masses in older buildings earlier than adopting hearth security norms to stop electrical fires. 

The joint advisory famous that security of the sufferers and the integrity of healthcare services needs to be of paramount significance. “Subsequently, all state and UT administrations are urged to conduct follow-up opinions and guarantee strict implementation of those essential security measures”, IT stated. 

Directions to stop hearth incidents at healthcare services:

– Purposeful fire-fighting methods

– Common electrical load audits

– Common upkeep and testing of security gear

– No-smoking close to oxygen tanks or piped oxygen

– Set up of smoke detectors and hearth alarms

– Keep away from overloading energy sources

– Set up of water sprinklers and hosepipes

– Adherence to the Nationwide Constructing Code

– Acquiring hearth security no-objection certificates

– Workers coaching and common drills

– Complete evacuation plans

First Revealed: Mar 24 2024 | 12:09 AM IST