In addition to preventing accidental injuries from falls, burns, cuts, choking, and poisoning, Health Care Assistants also play an important role in fire prevention and fire safety. They must be aware of potential fire hazards and take steps to prevent fires.

Guidelines for Fire Prevention

• Ensure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are on every home floor, including the basement. The batteries should be changed at least once per year (CDC, 2014a). If the client’s home does not have detectors, discuss their concern with your supervisor. Community and agency resources may be available to provide these to the client.
• Check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors several times a year to ensure they are properly working.
• Encourage and assist families to develop fire safety plans and to practise fire drills.
• Every family should have a designated safe meeting place in the event that they must leave the home during a fire.
• Every bedroom should have at least two exits (CDC, 2014a).
• Teach children fire safety.
• Teach clients to stop, drop, and roll if their clothing ever catches on fire.
• Never leave unattended candles or items such as incense with a flame where a potential burn can occur. Discourage clients from using these items if they require supervision to do so.
• Do not smoke in the home and discourage clients and family from doing so. Ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished. Before emptying ashtrays, ensure there are no hot ashes.
• Never leave the stove unattended while cooking.
• Pay attention that pots do not boil over.
• Take care not to splash oil while cooking to prevent grease fires.
• Empty the lint trap after every use of the dryer. Never run the dryer when you are not home.
• Never leave space heaters, electric heaters, kerosene, or gas heaters on unattended and when someone is not home. Ensure all these types of appliances are in good working order.
• Ensure fire extinguishers are in the home, that they have not expired, and that you and others in the family know how to use them.
• Do not store fire extinguishers near the stove where you may not be able to reach it if there is a fire on the stove.
• Do not wear loose clothing while working on the stove. Teach clients to roll up sleeves and to also avoid wearing loose clothing while cooking.
• Ensure hallways and exits, such as doorways and windows are not cluttered to prevent emergency exit.
• Keep emergency numbers near the phone for easy access.

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

When using a fire extinguisher, the acronym PASS should be kept in mind.

• P: Pull the pin.
• A: Aim at the base of the fire.
• S: Squeeze the handle.
• S: Sweep back and forth at the base of the fire.

In Case of Fire

In case of fire, remember the acronym RACE.

• R: Remove clients from danger.
• A: Activate 911.
• C: Contain the fire if safe and possible to do so.
• E: Extinguish fire or call the fire department to do so.

Things to Remember in Case of a Fire

• The first priority is to get you and the client to safety.
• Remain calm and direct the client and others in the home to safety.
• Never try to put out a large fire or put yourself or others in danger.
• Stay low in rooms with fire.
• Close doors and if possible, plug doorways with blankets to prevent smoke from entering.
• Place a wet towel over the client’s face and your face to decrease smoke inhalation.
• If a person’s clothing catches on fire, remember to tell them to stop, drop, and roll.
• Keep the client and all others far away from the home once you have left.
• Wait for instruction from the fire department.
• Notify the supervisor once you have reached a safe destination.