As India prepares for summer, states asked to ensure fire prevention measures at hospitals

Hospital fire safety plan: The Union Health Ministry and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have issued a joint Advisory to states and Union Territories (UT) underscoring the paramount importance of proactive measures in preventing such devastating incidents as temperatures escalate during the summer months. 

According to the government release, state health departments and state disaster management authorities have been directed to work in close collaboration to ensure that all accredited hospitals within their jurisdiction take immediate action on the following:

-Thorough Inspections: Conduct comprehensive fire safety audit  on-site inspections of all hospitals to assess fire safety compliance. Ensure that fire-fighting systems, including fire alarms, fire smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, fire hydrants, and fire lifts, are present and fully functional.

-Electrical Load Audits: Address the critical issue of insufficient electrical load capacity. Hospitals must regularly conduct electrical load audits, particularly when adding new equipment or converting spaces into ICUs. Any identified discrepancies must be promptly rectified.

-Fire NOC Compliance: Hospitals must strictly adhere to regulatory requirements and obtain valid fire No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from their respective state fire departments. Prioritize re-calibration of electrical loads in older buildings constructed before adopting fire safety norms.

A detailed set of instructions outlining the steps and measures to be undertaken by hospitals to ensure fire safety compliance has also been provided to Chief Secretaries of all states and UTs, recommending them disseminate the information among all accredited hospitals.

Following are the instructions that need to be carried out:

• Functional Fire-Fighting Systems
• Regular Maintenance and Testing
• Regular Electrical Load Audits
• Oxygen Safety
• Installation of Smoke Detectors and Fire Alarms
• Combustible Material Control
• Non-Combustible MateriaI for Electrical Ducts
• Avoid Overloading Power Sources
• Installation of Water Sprinklers and Hosepipes
• Strict Adherence to the National Building Code
• Obtaining Fire Safety NOC
• Staff Training and Drills
• Evacuation Plans

They have also been urged to conduct follow-up reviews to ensure the implementation of these critical safety measures.