- Author
- Bryan, J. L. | DiNenno, P. J.
- Title
- Examination and Analysis of the Dynamics of the Human Behavior in the Fire Incident at the Harford Memorial Hospital on March 9, 1978.
- Coporate
- Maryland Univ., College Park
- Sponsor
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- NBS GCR 80-209, July 31, 1978, 47 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- GRANT-79014
- Keywords
- fire extinguishers | fire investigations | hospitals | nursing staff | patients | room fires
- Abstract
- The fire incident at the Harford Memorial Hospital on March 9, 1978 was detected by the nursing staff in reponse to a patient's cries at approximately 0315 hours. The four nursing staff members upon entering patient room 373 observed the linen involved for an area of approximately 1.5 square feet and flames with a height of approximately 1 foot adjacent to the patient. The facility has a capacity of 289 patients and at the time of the fire incident 279 patients were registered. The building containing the patient areas is approximately eight years old and of fire resistive construction. Upon observing the fire, two of the nursing staff immediately removed the patient while the other two pulled the flaming linen on the floor and extinguished the fire with a 2-1/2 gallon labelled pressurized water extinguisher. The door to room 373 was closed; the hospital security notified; the patient placed in another room; and other patients reassured. The facility local alarm system was not activated; the facility emergency procedures were not initiated; and the fire department was not notified.