Disaster Management Protocol

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Disaster Management Protocol
This particular hospital is a big hospital with a capacity of over 300 in-patients. As such, it requires a well calculated and standby disaster management system. In case of a fire breakout, there are a couple of essential procedures which have to be followed. The first thing to know is that this hospital operates on a two-alarm system. Alarm number one is used to notify the staff and people within the hospital environs that there is the danger (World Health Organization 9). Alarm number two is used the general public that there is a disaster at the hospital and therefore they should no come anywhere near.
It is notable that immediately the first alarm is set, some administrative staff have to be contacted. These include the medical office administrator, medical secretary, the human resource manager, nurse manager and director of nurses (World Health Organization 10). The reason as to why these personalities have to be contacted first is because they oversee other subordinate staff and therefore they stand a better chance to give directions on what their subordinates should do as far as the fire outbreak is concerned. In the hospital, the central point of communication boardroom. The hospital has a huge hall where all meetings are held. As such, this hall can accommodate many people at the same time and help communicate to them on what to do during this disaster.

Evacuation Plan
The following actions will be undertaken:
• Assemble all the administrative staff in the boardroom.
• Contact neighboring healthcare facilities.
• Call ambulances.
• Address all the subordinate staff.
• Transfer patients in ICU.
• Transfer of patients in labor and delivery unit.
• Conduct internal transfer of patients to safer buildings.
• Ensure that no patient is left in danger areas.
• Attend to the patient while liaising with the fire brigade to ensure the disaster is managed.
If the fire cannot be contained, the second alarm is set on and a public announcement will be made about a total evacuation of the hospital (Silverwood 2). Communication, in this case, is via the disaster unit in coordination with the other nearby hospitals. Receptionists are required to make phone calls to neighboring hospitals and notifying them about the fire outbreak. The administrator of the hospital is required to request the administrator and director of medical officers in neighboring hospitals whether patients can be taken to their hospital until the disaster is managed. Patients in the Intensive Care Unit, the labor and delivery Unit are given priority during this evacuation plan. All ambulances are assembled and move people to other facilities (World Health Organization 10). These people are accompanied by nurses who have their records. Since buildings in the hospital are scattered, other patients are taken to buildings which are far away from where the fire has dominated.
The hospital staff ensures that there is no link between these buildings and the buildings which are on fire before transferring these patients. This internal transfer helps significantly since all the patients cannot be transferred to other hospitals. The emergency exit is done in an organized and orderly fashion. During internal transfers, always feel the door to see if it is hot. If the door is hot, do not open it. Place a blanket at the bottom of the door to block smoke and then shout for assistance or call for help out of the window (McClean 4). In conclusion, always act in a calm and collected manner and opt for action that safeguards life and reduces the chances of further injury.
Work Cited
Silverwood, Amie. “Fire Safety Disaster.” Canadian Healthcare Facilities Volume 28 Issue 3, ed. Spring 2008, 26.
Maclean, Susan.”Canadian Firm Generates Digital Fire Safety Plans.” Building Strategies, ed. Spring 2007, 14
World Health Organization. “Hospital emergency response checklist: An all-hazards tool for hospital administrators and emergency managers.” World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe: Copenhagen, Denmark (2011). Pp: 1-26)