KP hospitals asked to ensure safe evacuation of patients, staff in case of emergency

PESHAWAR: The health department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has mandated hospitals to ensure the safe evacuation of staff, patients, and their attendants during emergencies from nurseries, neonatal intensive care units, labor rooms, and operation theaters. The directive was issued by Dr Naeem Awan, the director-general of health services, following orders from Health Secretary Fayaz Ali Shah to enhance fire safety measures during a meeting.

The department's notice emphasized the importance of having fire-fighting equipment, regular inspections of fire extinguishers, hydrants, hoses, and alarms, and the removal of faulty devices. Hospitals are also directed to manage oxygen cylinders safely, ensuring they are not stored in clinical rooms but rather in a designated, secured area.

The formation of fire safety bodies at divisional and district levels is mandated for health facilities. Each hospital must designate a staff member as a fire warden on night shifts in nurseries, NICUs, labor rooms, and ICUs, and display a written emergency evacuation plan in prominent locations. Staff must be familiarized with emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and oxygen shut-off points.

The notification stresses that any oxygen-dependent equipment should not be located in areas with a single evacuation route and should be relocated or restricted until a second safe route is established. The directives are to be implemented at every level, from basic health units to district hospitals, with a physical inspection completed within 72 hours.

Hospitals are required to submit a signed certificate of compliance to the director-general health services. Failure to comply with these directives or the presence of unsafe conditions, such as locked or obstructed emergency exits, may result in disciplinary action. Earlier, a meeting was held to strengthen and improve fire safety arrangements in all hospitals and healthcare facilities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, involving representatives from various departments, including Civil Defense, Rescue 1122, and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.