Govt issues hospital fire safety advisory

As temperatures escalate, Union Health Ministry and NDMA issue hospital fire safety advisory for states, union territories, and hospitals in India to prevent hospital fires during summer.

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With mercury rising due to summer in India, hospital fires emerge as a significant threat every year. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) have issued a joint advisory to all states, union territories, and hospitals and healthcare centers in India to take proactive measures to prevent such devastating incidents.

Directives for hospitals

A detailed set of instructions outlining the steps and measures to be undertaken by hospitals to ensure fire safety compliance have also been provided to Chief Secretaries of all States and UTS, recommending them to disseminate the information among all accredited hospitals. The instructions for hospitals and other healthcare facilities:

Functional fire-fighting systems:

Hospitals must regularly inspect fire-fighting equipment such as fire extinguishers, hydrants, and alarms. This includes checking the expiry dates of extinguishers, ensuring hydrants are accessible and have adequate water pressure, and that fire alarms are operational and audible throughout the facility.

Regular maintenance and testing:

Establish a maintenance schedule for all fire safety equipment. This should include monthly checks of fire extinguishers, quarterly tests of fire alarms and hydrants, and annual inspections to certify their effectiveness in accordance with relevant Indian Standards.

Regular electrical load audits: