Fire safety

Learning outcomes

• Identify the fire risks specific to a residential care setting
• Follow the evacuation procedure and account for every child and adult
• Select the correct extinguisher, and know when not to fight a fire
• Complete required detection and drill checks

Module 1 of 3

Prevention and daily checks

Fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen. Most preventable fires in care settings start with cooking left unattended, overloaded sockets, tumble dryer lint, discarded smoking materials or charging devices left on soft furnishings.

Weekly alarm testing, monthly emergency lighting checks and keeping every escape route completely clear are non-negotiable. Fire doors are never wedged open, and a door held open by a magnetic release must close automatically when the alarm sounds.

Module 2 of 3

On discovering a fire

Raise the alarm first, every time, before anything else. Evacuate using the nearest safe route, close doors behind you, and go to the assembly point. Take the register or contact sheet with you and account for every child, member of staff and visitor.

Never re-enter the building for belongings or for a child you believe is inside — tell the fire service immediately on arrival. Only tackle a fire if it is small, you are trained, and you have a clear escape route behind you.

Module 3 of 3

Children who will not evacuate

Some children freeze, hide, or refuse to leave during an alarm, particularly where a previous trauma is triggered by noise or urgency. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans are written in advance for any child with a known pattern, mobility need or sensory need, and every member of staff on shift must know them.

Practise drills at varied times, including evenings, so that children experience evacuation as familiar rather than alarming. Record every drill, the evacuation time and any problems, and feed those problems back into the fire risk assessment.