How To Build A Simple Emergency Plan-PREPARING FOR EMERGENCIES IN ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE STRAIGHTFORWARD. HELP MAY BE AS CLOSE AS THE NEAREST FIRE STATION

摘要

On an administrator's first day on the job, a call reaches him at home: There is a fire in the building! February 2006 wasn't an unusually cold month for Illinois, but a lack of insulation near the business office of an assisted living community in Illinois was a recipe for disaster. When a fire broke out, below-freezing temperatures, followed by a brief thaw, caused the plastic fire sprinkler piping to fail, sending water cascading through the ceiling and down the walls onto the floor. One hundred thirty-two gallons (as measured by the water meter) flooded the office, lobby, and adjacent offices. Quick thinking by the staff, generous help from the local hardware store, and expert handling by the fire department's salvage and damage control personnel limited the damage to $36,000. There were no injuries, no evacuation or relocation of residents. So, were staff perfect in planning for the unexpected? Certainly not. Here's what they learned.