We are fire-proof, say some hospitals

KOCHI: In the absence of any monitoring mechanism, the hospitals across the city have resorted to independent monitoring mechanism to monitor the fire and rescue operations. Hospitals like Amrita and Lakeshore have advanced fire safety mechanisms to go with their NABH accreditation."The Fire and Safety Department hardly has the equipment or the personnel to  monitor the fire safety. We have evolved our own safety procedures and  measures to counter this. We provide training on safety mechanism to every staff member. The training will include measure like how to reach the site of a fire accident and to use fire extinguishers. We conduct two mock drills every year. Our buildings are designed in such a way that when a fire breaks out at a spot, we can shift the patients to the adjacent buildings. We regularly check our equipment and maintain records of the devices. Even our beds are designed for easy movement. All of them have rollers,” said AIMS safety officer Baburaj.The Lakeshore Hospital authorities said the hospital had all equipment to meet the demands of fire safety. “We have separate fire safety training for  the staff. Apart from this, we have separate fire safety officers, fire safety departments and so on,” said hospital general manager A B Pappachan.“We have fire safety equipment. Mock drills are conducted every once in six months. There are fire exit routes which are marked and highlighted for the benefit of the patients,” said General Hospital Superintendent Junied Rehman. Though the hospitals claim to have several mechanisms, the absence of any body to monitor their effectiveness makes them unverifiable.“The Fire and Rescue team gives the license before the hospitals are opened. After about six months, the corporation gives them the approval. Then, there is no further check up. In the district, there are over 60 percent vacancies.  Moreover, the Fire and Safety Department does not have the power to carry out raids unless there is a complaint from an authority”, said Joe Kuruvilla, Divisional Officer, Fire and Rescue Department.