Posted By Chris Huffadine
Most Nursing and Residential Care Homes for the Elderly operate a "stay-put" policy. This means that in the event of a fire the reisdents who may be confused or physically disabled stay in their rooms until or unless they are asked to evacuate.

This works perfectly well when all of the precautionary measures are properly installed. One of the vital component parts that adds to the robustness of this procedure is the calling of the Fire Service as soon as the alarm is initiated.

I guess the Fire Service, understandably, are getting fed up of false alarms and in some areas of the country are now requiring care home operators to investigate the cause of the alarm before dialling 999.

The Home Office "Draft Guide to Precautions in Residential Care premises", the HSE "Fire Safety - An Employers Guide", the Northern Ireland Firecode, etc, etc. do not prescribe the action to be taken in the event of a fire.

We will not be complying with this instruction from the Fire Service, particualrly in the light of the events that appear to have led to the North Lanarkshire Care Home fire earlier this year.

What are your thoughts?

Posted By Nigel Hammond
Hi Chris

Hope you are well. I agree with you about this. This is surprising. We have found fire officers to be more stringent and less flexible following the Scottish care home fire.

One of our homes in Shropshire was investigated by fire officers recently following false alarms. Their recommendations concerned changing to optical detectors downstairs but nothing about investigating the fire first.

Where we have a stay put policy, I usually advise the care home managers to install an autodial facility.

Did you know that false alarms in rural areas are often caused by storm flies. This can be prevented by putting a flea collar round the base of the detector! - I heard this on the 3 counties radio when they were interviewing a fire research scientist.

Posted By Kenny McGillivray
I think it's back to basics for some nursing homes like many others. During recent discussions with duty manager of local care home she had no idea whether she should phone the Fire Brigade or did the alarm system auto dial.

Some mess at 2 in the morning!!

procedures certainly needing sorted!!

Kenny

Posted By John Webster
Any firefighter I know would rather spend a lifetime attending false alarms than have to recover a single charred corpse.

However, I think the point some Brigades are trying to make is that there are many premises where false alarms are commonplace, but no real attempt has been made to reduce their incidence.

If you work with them to ensure you are using the most appropriate type of detection equipment, properly located to avoid triggering by steam, cooking fumes, fag smoke, toasters etc etc., and protected as far as possible against electrical "events" then it is unlikely that they are going to charge for what should be a once-in-a-while false alarm.