Reading Skills for Healthcare Workers

The plan for fire safety includes three parts. You should know what to do to keep residents safe. You should know whom to call. You should know how to use a fire extinguisher.

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If an employee sees a fire, he or she should sound the fire alarm and call the emergency number. If there are people in the area, help to move them to a safe place. It’s important to try to contain the fire by closing doors. Using a fire extinguisher also helps contain fires. Fire extinguishers are in the hallways and in all public rooms.

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To use a fire extinguisher, remember PASS—Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.

• Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher. Do not squeeze the handles when removing the pin.

• Aim the hose or nozzle at the base of the fire. Be about 8 to 10 feet away from the fire. Do not aim at the smoke or flames.

• Squeeze the top handle to the bottom handle to discharge the chemicals.

• Sweep the nozzle from side to side to reach as much of the base of the fire as possible.

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As soon as the fire department arrives, leave the area for a safe location. If the fire extinguisher becomes empty before the fire is out, leave the extinguisher and move to a safe location.