It only is dependent on time before another Nursing Home fire claims the life of another patient. While less publicized, hundreds of elderly people receive burns every year during their admission to skilled assisted living. Anyway you look e situation, fires in Nursing Homes stay a real-- yet under-appreciated hazards to Nursing Home patient protective.
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), around 1994 to 1999 around 2, 300 Nursing Homes reported some type of fire at their facility every year. Equally alarming is that the GAO has found how many severe fire deficiencies in Nursing Home has grown steadily from 2004 through 2007.
In response on this safety threat, Centers for Medicare & State health programs Services (CMS) now includes a smoke detector in almost every patient room and in public. Additionally, automatic fire sprinkler systems must not be installed in new websites and retrofit in existing facilities within the next four years.
While compliance with CMS regulations may help reduce the chance of fires in skilled nursing homes, owners and administrators should consider all activities and determine what policies may be done to further promote patient insurance.
Step #1: Eliminate Smoking
Smoking in Nursing Homes can longest be considered counter-productive in order to complete patient health. Perhaps more accurately, smoking in medical facilities is threat to all patients and staff. Even when monitored, there is an concerns of fire in rest homes that permit smoking compared with those that do not allow it.
Therefore, I recommend Nursing Homes force patients to improve toss out their smokes cigarettes or seek alternative websites.
In addition to safety concerns concerned with fire, allowing patients to smoke during a Nursing Home diverts staff resources towards the supervision of patients who like to smoke and away from the task of providing trained nursing care.
According to the National Fire Protection Clb, elderly people are planet three times apt to suffer a smoking-related injuries than their younger alternatives. One need not look far to come across examples of smoking offenses in Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facilities:
Dallas, Texas- Woman dies in a fire at an Assisted Living the hospital. The fire inspector determined the fire started due to 'improper popularity of smoking material'
Chicago, Illinois- Two patients died at Hampton Pond Nursing Home from smoke taking in. The fire department concluded that the fire was lennon by smoking materials stored in a patient's closet.
Whittier, California- A Nursing Home individual with dementia ignited himself while attempting to light his cigarette. A investigation into the matter revealed the staff was unaware is that your man was even outside of the facility.
Lebanon, Indiana- An oxygen dependent patient started a fire at an Assisted Living complex once the oxygen tank exploded out of the box she smoked.
I doubt we will see Nursing Homes flocking to option their policies to 'smoke free' day time. In the meantime, facilities should take steps to create a smoking policy that is both realistic to start and enhances patient well-being. Here are some suggestions to developing a smoking protection:
Designate a smoking location for patients that is got along and well ventilated.
Ban all smoking in patient master bedrooms. Studies have shown that potential risk of fire increases when people smoke lying there.
Establish an evacuation policy in case of a fire or wage day. Similarly, inform all staff and patients as to the location of fire extinguishers and teach them to use it.
Keep all smoking fabric including lighters and matches in possession of staff and locked all round.
Provide ashtrays and smoking aprons (outerwear constructed from fire-proof material that reduces the chance of a stray ash lighting a patients clothing)
Develop a smoking cessation program.
Make sure your medical center has smoke detectors and a sprinkler system.
Allow patients to smoke only when supervised by staff system.
Develop a set of a lot of consequences for patients who fails follow the policy.
Write down your facilities smoking policy and give a copy to all patients with their families.
While the above guidelines may reduce the chance of fires in Nursing Homes, eliminating smoking remains one of the easiest ways to add to the living conditions for your own patients and Nursing Home class.
Jonathan Rosenfeld is a lawyer based in Chicago whom handled elder abuse and neglect cases given that Midwest and across the country. Mr. Rosenfeld works about the following types of rate:
Bed Sores, Pressure Blisters, Decubitus Ulcers
Falls
Dehydration / Malnutrition
Medication Errors
Impacted bowels
Sex Abuse
Medical Errors
Feel free to contact Jonathan for a totally free case evaluation. (888) 424-5757
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