Fire Safety - California

Outline:
Pretest

Introduction

Overview: Fire Safety

Residential Care Facilities

i.Definitions

Adult Residential Facility (ARF)

Any facility of any capacity that provides 24-hour-a-day nonmedical care and supervision to people 18 years through 59 years of age and people 60 years of age and older.

Ambulatory Person

Person who can demonstrate the mental competence and physical ability to leave a building without assistance from any other person or without the use of any mechanical aid in case of an emergency.

Bedridden Person

People who require assistance in turning and repositioning in bed or being unable to independently transfer to and from bed except in facilities with appropriate and sufficient care staff, mechanical devices if necessary, and safety precautions.

Care and Supervision

Means any one or more of the following activities provided by a person or facility to meet the needs of the residents:

Assistance in dressing, grooming, bathing, and other personal hygiene

Assistance in taking medication

Central storage and/or distribution of medications

Arrangement of and assistance with medical and dental care

Maintenance of house rules for the protection of clients

Supervision of client schedules and activities

Maintenance and/or supervision of client cash resources or property

Non-Ambulatory Person

People who are unable to leave a building unassisted in emergency conditions. It includes, but is not limited to, those persons who depend upon mechanical aids such as crutches, walkers, and wheelchairs. It also includes persons who are unable, or likely to be unable, to respond physically or mentally to an oral instruction relating to fire danger and, unassisted, take appropriate actions relating to such danger.

Residential Care Facility for the Elderly(RCFE)

A housing arrangement chosen voluntarily by the resident, the resident's guardian, conservator, or other responsible person; where 75% of the residents are ages 60 or older and where varying levels of care and supervision are provided, as agreed to at time of admission or as determined necessary at subsequent times of reappraisal.

Temporarily Bedridden

Licensee shall notify the local fire authority within 48 hours of the bedridden status of a resident. Residents can be considered temporarily bedridden for up to 14 days and up to 60 days with the approval from Department of Social Services:Community Care Licensing Division.

ii.Pre-Inspections, Form LIC9092(RCFE)

iii.Fire Safety Clearance, Form STD850

iv.R-2.1 Occupancies

Facilities housing clients on a 24-hour basis in a supervised residential environment that provides personal care services.(Seven or more non-ambulatory)

v.R-3.1 Occupancies

May include facilities licensed by a governmental agency for a residentially based 24-hour care facility providing accommodations for six or fewer clients of any age.

vi.R-4 Occupancies

Residential occupancies shall include buildings arranged for occupancy as residential care/assisted living facilities, including more than six ambulatory clients, excluding staff.(Seven or more ambulatory-may have up to six non-ambulatory or bedridden)

vii.Regulation 87202 Fire Clearance(RCFE)/Regulation 80020 Fire Clearance(ARF)

All facilities shall maintain a fire clearance approved by the city, county, or city and county fire department or district providing fire protection services, or the State Fire Marshall.

Basic Fire Safety Practices

Know your residents

i.Ambulatory, Non-Ambulatory, Bedridden?

ii.Regulation 87158 Capacity(RCFE)

A license shall be issued for a specific capacity which shall be the maximum number of residents that can be provided care at any given time. The capacity shall be exclusive of any members of the licensee's own family who reside at the facility. However, the licensing agency shall consider the presence of other family members or other persons who reside in the facility in determining capacity to ensure and promote proper living arrangements for both the licensee's family and the residents and to ensure the provision of adequate care and supervision of the residents.

iii.Health and Safety Code 1531.15(B)(f)(4)(ARF)

A description of how the facility will manage residents' lack of hazard awareness and impulse control behavior, which shall emphasize positive behavioral support and techniques that are alternatives to physical, chemical, or mechanical restraints, or seclusion.

Know your facility

i.Regulation 87203 Fire Safety(RCFE)

All facilities shall be maintained in conformity with the regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal for the protection of life and property against fire and panic

Know your facility emergency plan

i.Regulation 87211 - Emergency Disaster Plan(RCFE)

Each facility shall have a disaster and mass casualty plan of action. The plan shall be in writing and shall be readily available.

ii.Staff training

iii.Regulation 87705(k)(3)Care of Persons with Dementia(RCFE)

Fire and earthquake drills shall be conducted at least once every three months on each shift and shall include, at a minimum, all direct care staff.

iv.Health and Safety Code 1531.15(B)(h)(ARF)

Emergency fire and earthquake drills shall be conducted on each shift in accordance with existing licensing requirements, and shall include all facility staff providing resident care and supervision on each shift.

v.Health and Safety Code 1531.2(7)(ARF)

Emergency fire and earthquake drills shall be conducted at least once every three months, or more frequently as required by a county or city fire department or local fire prevention district.

vi.Health and Safety Code 1569.695(RCFE)

A residential care facility for the elderly must have an emergency plan.

Know your fire safety equipment

Know what to do in an emergency

RACE

Rescue

Immediately stop what you are doing and remove anyone in immediate danger from the fire to a safe area

Alarm

Activate the nearest fire alarm pull stations(if applicable). Call 911 to report the location and current extent of the fire.

Contain

Close all doors and windows that you can safely reach to contain the fire.

Extinguish

Only attempt to extinguish the fire if it is safe for you to do so.

Summary

Learning Engagement Activity:Questions(multiple choice)

How to use a fire extinguisher

P.A.S.S.

i.Pull the pin

The pin is there to prevent accidental discharge.

ii.Aim

Aim low at the base of the fire. This base is where the fuel source is of the fire.

iii.Squeeze

Squeeze the lever above the handle. Release the lever to stop the flow.

(Some fire extinguishers may have a button instead of a lever.)

iv.Sweep

Sweep from side to side. Move toward the fire, aiming at the base of the fire. Sweep until all flames are extinguished. Repeat as necessary. If needed, have site of the fire inspected by fire department.

Learning Engagement Activity:Video showing ways to use fire extinguishers

Learning Engagement Activity:Questions(multiple choice)

Other Safety Equipment

Fire alarms

Pull stations

Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors

i.Ionization

ii.Photoelectric

iii.Health and Safety Code 1569.311(RCFE)

Every residential care facility for the elderly shall have one or more carbon monoxide detector in the facility that meet the standards established.

Heat detectors

i.Fixed temperature heat detector

ii.A rate-of-rise heat detector

Sprinkler system

i.Regulation 89920 Fire Clearance(ARF)

An Enhanced Behavioral Supports Home shall meet the automatic fire spri

Mel Llapitan is a RCFE Administrator in California with a 17+ year record of successful launching, directing and managing of assisted living communities by performing management functions such as planning, scheduling, organizing, and tracking processes in both operational and financial responsibilities.