HOSPITAL FIRE ESCAPES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26353, 22 February 1951, Page 5

HOSPITAL FIRE ESCAPES

SLIDE SYSTEM FOR BURWOOD COMPLIANCE WITH EGRESS CODE A scheme for evacuating incapacitated patients at the Burwood Hospital by slides, down which they would travel on mattresses, in the event of a fire, was discussed by the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday. “Plans have been approved of proposed fire escapes at the Burwood Hospital to comply with the Means of Egress Code, at an estimated cost of £2066, plus £BOO for an emergency lighting and fire alarm system,” said the report of the building committee, presented by Mr C. G. McKellar. “It is pointed out that the proposed system, involving mattress slides, necessitates that sufficient staff should be available to move patients from beds to mattresses and thus down the slides provided.” Mr J. J. Brownlee said the board had previously agreed that the young girls at Burwood were not capable of lifting patients in and out of baths; now the board was taking responsibility for lifting patients and mattresses on to the slide. “What is the good of putting in machinery which cannot be used?” asked Miss M. B. Howard, M.P. The slides were installed on the advice of a Health Department architect, said the chairman (Mr V. C. Lawn). To say that the young girls could not lift the patients in and out of baths was to draw a red herring across the trail. In an emergency such as a fire, he felt sure_some means would be found to get the patients on to the slide.

“We cannot keep sufficient staff on duty in the geriatric ward all night to .handle the nptients in the event of a fire,” said Mr Lawn. “We have to take a certain amount of risk, but I believe this is the best we can do. The first step is surely to provide some means of getting them out.” In reply to a question, Mr Brownlee said Dr. Baird bad estimated the number of totally incapacitated patients in the hospital at 60. He believed the matron had dissociated herself from the scheme of retting patients out on slides. Mrs J. E. Mackay said her recollection of the matron’s reaction was not that she dissociated herself from the scheme, but that she expressed concern, at. the possibility of the girls having to lift patients on to the ramp. The recommendation of the building committee was then put to the meeting and passed without dissent.