Dementia is a progressive disease that mainly affects people aged 65 and over, but it can affect younger people too. Dementia can affect memory, problem-solving, language and behaviour. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.
Are you involved in a business that caters for people with dementia? This could be a nursing home, care home, retirement flat, social housing, hotel, B&B, village/community hall, pub, restaurant, shop, healthcare provider or hairdressers.
If so, you need to make sure your Fire Risk Assessment includes those who may be living with dementia.
Fire Risk Assessment
As the responsible person you must carry out and regularly review a Fire Risk Assessment of the premises. This will identify what you need to do to prevent fire and keep people safe. You must keep a written record of your Fire Risk Assessment.
One of the steps you need to take when completing a Fire Risk Assessment is to identify people at risk. This includes people in and around the premises and people especially at risk, which may include people with dementia.
Have you considered:
- The location of the people at risk
- People who may be unable to escape unaided
- People who are not able to leave the premises quickly, but do not require assistance
- Medical conditions, sensory awareness and mobility
Think about how you manage fire safety:
- What is the fire evacuation strategy?
- Have you got adequately trained staff available at all times (day and night), to provide for the safe evacuation of everyone who uses the premises? This could include people with dementia.
- Are your staff trained to assist those with dementia? Their evacuation could be slow, they could be confused, upset, frightened. They may require patience and reassurance. A level of awareness and understanding for your staff will assist with fire safety and the evacuation process.
- Staff fire safety training needs to be conducted regularly, making sure new members of staff receive immediate training. Regular fire drills should take place so all members of staff know how to act confidently and calmly if a fire starts and ensure those most vulnerable are assisted.
- There should always be sufficient staff levels at all times in case an emergency occurs.
- Do you have up-to-date personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEP) in place? A PEEP is for anyone who may need assistance, for instance to evacuate a building or reach a place of safety in the event of an emergency.
- Do you run a club which could include people with dementia? Are you aware of your clients and their individual needs? Have you a plan in place if there was an emergency and these people need to evacuate the premises? Are there enough staff to assist you if required?
- How will people be alerted to a fire? What effect could this have on people who could be using the premises who have dementia? For example, confusion, fright or upset.
- Think about the fire escape routes and exits. They should be free from obstruction at all times, with adequate signage and lighting.
- Is the person accompanied? Is that person aware of the fire procedures in place and their role to assist?
Remember, it may not be obvious that someone using your business facilities has dementia, but this is where awareness training can assist, so you can pick up on possible signs.
With dementia, the person may experience loss of cognitive functioning, thinking, remembering, and reasoning; they may be emotional; and their personalities may change – and these behaviours are likely to get worse. Therefore, make sure you complete a Fire Risk Assessment and consider ALL people at risk and their individual needs.
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