Posted By Phil Roberts James, I'm not sure what you are asking but I am in the process of training all our staff in Fire Awareness Training. I am using a Power Point presentation produced by Paul Bullows and a video Called Get Out Stay Out from FTV as well as practial fire extinguisher training. The Power Point Presentation is available as a free download from http:www.web-safety.com/ which has a Safety Exchange facility and is extremly easy to follow and use with a bit of research. The video is available from Fire Training Videos Ltd. Telephone +44 (0) 1273 461192. I hope this is of some use although it does not mention safer handling? Regards Phil Roberts

Posted By James Dickerson Hi. The message regarding fire training was posted by one of my colleagues during my absence and unfortunately is not very clear. The problem we have that as part of our fire training proceedures we have to take into account that some of our patients (we are an acute NHS hospital) will be unable to leave a ward by themselves. Depending on the whereabouts of the fire it may be possible to push the patients out of a ward on the bed. However,this may not always be possible and it may be necassary to take the patient down an external staircase in which case the bed can not be used. Under each mattress is a skid sheet on which are straps which fasten around the patient. The mattress is pulled from the bed with the patient lying on it and dragged along the floor and down the stairs.We need to train our staff in the correct methods of doing this and are seeking advice from colleagues who have overcome a similar problem. Jim

Posted By James Dickerson Ken, Many thanks for the information. Will do as you suggest. Jim

Posted By Lance Morgan I was faced with this problem at my Trust. Although the staff had received regular fire safety training - they had never had the opportunity to practice evacuation techniques with regard to getting immobile patients out of a ward/department using the equipment provided becausde of the manual handling issues involved. Because I thought this was important both myself and the fire advisor set up a number of simulation exercises using a manikin of appropriate proportions and average adult male weight. For manual handling risk purposes we only asked the staff to test the weight of the manakin but not actually move it, this was combined with a smoke filled room, confined spaces, beds, lockers etc. These sessions went down extremely well with staff and above all reinforced the importance of fire prevention rather than experiencing the difficulties which would ensue in a real fire evacuation situation. Staff with known back or respiratory problems were voluntarily excluded from the practice and there were no safety problems.

Posted By David Waterton Not sure if this will help but as regards getting people who are unable to walk down stairs there is a device called an EVAC chair..but may not be practical for large numbers..we use it for disabled staff and or clients (social work dept)It can be used by one person but i guess u still have to lift clients from the bed..