CUTTACK: Several departments and critical units of the SCB Medical here are not only vulnerable to fire accidents but also seriously incapable of ensuring safety and fast evacuation of patients in times of need. This has been brought to the fore as the State Fire Services Department on Monday began its assessment of fire safety and disaster preparedness in medical institutions starting from the SCB. The Department has formed five teams, each headed by a fire officer, to conduct a thorough inspection of all the departments, wards and ancillary units of the 1,200-bed and largest hospital of the State. The teams went around wards, ICUs, nursing homes, cabins and other units which could be vulnerable to fire hazards. The structural aspects like height of the department and unit buildings, patient load, alternative exit facilities and patient-type categorisation were also assessed. According to sources, placement of generators, fuel storage, oxygen gas banks in different departments, pipelines to the wards and ICUs, installation of fire safety and control equipment, alarms and detection devices were examined. The oxygen gas cylinder banks pose a threat of fire accidents and special steps should be taken to secure them. Besides, the gas pipelines to the wards, particularly ICUs, should be secured and subjected to regular checks. The sources said vital departments like Orthopaedics and Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, where almost bulk of the patients are non-ambulant, do not have a mechanism to effect speedy and effective evacuation of inmates. The departments do not have any alternative stairs or ramps to shift patients quickly. Access points are also too constricted. The Medical as a whole is seriously lacking in fire-safety equipment and infrastructure. “We discussed all issues from threats, lapses, deficiencies with the authorities, including Superintendent Prof. D N Moharana and Medical Officer Dr B M Moharana. We have asked them to draw up a standard operating procedure and install emergency equipment like adequate number of extinguishers. More importantly, fire detection systems as smoke and gas detectors, alarms and public address systems to guide patients and public should be immediately put in place across the hospital. The structural deficiencies should be addressed urgently,” Chief Fire Officer Sukanta Sethi told this paper. The Fire Services inspection will continue for several days and a comprehensive report would be submitted to the hospital and the Government. The hospital would be required to address the shortcomings in 30 days after which safe occupation certificates would be provided by the Fire Services. This would be followed by fire drills and training of doctors, paramedics and all staff to deal with disaster situations like fires, Sethi added.* The medical as a whole is seriously lacking in fire-safety equipment and infrastructure* Several departments and critical units are seriously incapable of ensuring fast evacuation of patients in times of mishaps* Vital departments like Orthopaedics and Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, where almost bulk of the patients are non-ambulant, do not have mechanisms to effect speedy and effective evacuation
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