Fire Safety Study Days

by | Sep 14, 2017 | Archive, HCPA Services, Study Days

Following the tragic events of the Grenfell Tower fire, Adult Care Service (ACS) and HCPA have been working with Herts Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) to consider what advice and support to offer care providers in Hertfordshire in relation to fire safety.

HFRS will be leading on these sessions and the sessions will cover:

  1. An outline of fire safety legislation and requirements of care providers
  2. The steps that care providers should be taking to ensure compliance with legislation
  3. Fire Risk Assessments
  4. Understanding the roles of the “competent persons” – carrying out due diligence
  5. Sharing of useful tools and resources to ensure as providers you are fully aware of your legal responsibilities in relation to fire safety
  6. Evacuation strategies
  7. An opportunity for questions and discussion

Please see below the aims for the Homecare Fire Safety Workshops:

  1. The Fire Death Report 2000-2017 – Some brief statistics
  2. Exploring the prevalent risk permutations associated with fire deaths
  3. What can we do to help prevent these fire deaths?
  4. What is a Safe & Well visit?
  5. Caring Together – Details of a free fire safety awareness training session to help frontline staff identify those at particular risk and to have an understanding of what intervention HFRS can provide
  6. The referral Pathway
  7. An opportunity for questions and discussion

please email enquiries@hcpa.info if you have any questions.

We aim to hold this fire safety workshop for both Residential Care and Home Care providers on the following dates at the venues below:

All workshops will take place at the following times below:

Residential Care Workshop

  • 9.00: Registration
  • 9.30-12.30: Residential Care Workshop

Home Care Workshop

  • 13.00: Registration
  • 13:30-16:30: Homecare Workshop

Paraffin-based skin emollients on dressings or clothing: fire risk

A notice from gov.uk states reminds us that emollient cream including water based products can contain varying concentrations of paraffin. The paraffin in these products can be absorbed into clothing and bedding and accumulate to concentrations where they can act as an accelerant in a fire.

The risk from emollient creams is increased by the fact that washing below 60°C will not remove paraffin from the affected material. Paraffin may also become ingrained in any medical device including wheelchair batteries, hoists, defibrillators and oxygen apparatus. The highest risk is to older people and people who smoke and/or require supplemental oxygen.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued advice for professionals:

  • Advise people not to: smoke; use naked flames (or be near people who are smoking or using naked flames); or go near anything that may cause a fire while emollients are in contact with their medical dressings or clothing.
  • Change people’s clothing and bedding regularly—preferably daily—because emollients soak into fabric and can become a fire hazard.