Race fire plan:
RACE is an acronym for a procedure on how to respond to fire emergencies when they occur. Mainly used in fire safety management and serves as a quick reminder of what to do when there is a fire in an area.
The RACE fire plan can serve as an in-house procedure to guide everyone on how to respond to fire emergencies within an establishment.
What does the R A C E fire plan mean?
The race acronym stands for:
R- REMOVE
A- ALERT/ALARM
C- CONFINE
E -EXTINGUISH / EVACUATE
Having an acronym like this for a fire emergency procedure will make it easy for persons of an organization to remember what they have to do whenever there is such an emergency.
People can key into the procedure for effective fire emergency management.
Below is a quick guide on the race fire plan.
STEP 1-REMOVE.
Removing everyone in a room or an environment when there is a fire is the priority in this race fire plan.
For instance, if a fire happens in a patient room in a hospital. The first thing to do according to the procedure is to remove the patient from the room to a safer place free of fire-
When removing the individual, there should also be an arrangement for other persons with disabilities, visitors, pregnant women and children who may be vulnerable during the fire emergency.
Removing people to safety should be the first thing to do because a fire can escalate fast and cause havoc on persons and properties.
STEP 2- ALERT/ALARM.
There should be a manual call point for alarms in all buildings and designated areas. These alarms have to be activated so that other persons will be aware of the fire and walk themselves to safety.
During emergencies like this, walk briskly to the muster point for an easy evacuation.
Muster point has to be present in a designated area free from harm and hazards, in places with no imminent harm to persons.
The fire alarm pull stations should be on each floor of any building. When activated, it will set other fire action plans in motion making the fire response team members go into action.
The activation of the alarm will enhance the shutting down of some systems that could increase the spread of fire.
STEP 3- CONFINE.
Confine has to do with closing the doors, windows or any inlet that will allow the oxygen to enter a room. This action is needed when you have removed all the people in the room. With this, the fire will not be able to spread out, and it will give the fire team members enough time to arrive at the area.
STEP 4- EXTINGUISH/ EVACUATE.
Use of fire extinguishers has to come in here. An employee can only use a fire extinguisher when trained on it. So, it’s up to the management to train their employees.
We have many types of fire extinguishers. And this will determine the one you’re to use when fighting a fire.
The label on the body will show you the individual type. When you see a black label, it connotes a CO2 fire extinguisher.
You can read this blog for the types of extinguishers and their suitability for fighting a fire.
Knowledge of the type of extinguisher should be involved when purchasing the fire extinguishers and conducting a fire risk assessment.
There is an acronym for using a portable fire extinguisher. It is called the PASS method. The PASS acronym can help you and your team remember how to use a fire extinguisher:
P – Pull the pin in the nozzle of the extinguisher
A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
S – Squeeze the handle or the lever.
S – Sweep from side to side, covering the fire
When you apply the fire extinguisher, and the fire is still high, ensure to evacuate the area immediately.
Here are some tips when fighting fires.
- Individuals should only attempt to extinguish contained fires like small fires, not the ones that have gone out of control.
- Do not attempt to fight a fire if there is no escape route behind you.
- Put people first, Let them be a priority for you, and rescue and evacuate them before attempting to put out a fire.
- Avoid trying to extinguish a fire if you know nothing about fire extinguisher use. Please evacuate the area and wait for the arrival of the fire emergency team members.
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