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Terrible fire in Rappertshofen: Resident injured after cigarette!
In Reutlingen, a resident in a care facility was seriously injured in a fire caused by smoking with an oxygen device.
Terrible fire in Rappertshofen: Resident injured after cigarette!
On Tuesday morning there was a devastating fire in a care facility in Rappertshofen, which was caused by a careless act by a resident. Despite using an oxygen device, he lit a cigarette, which led to a dangerous deflagration and subsequent fire. One resident suffered serious burn injuries and had to be taken to hospital after emergency medical treatment. The fire brigade was on duty, supported with two fire engines and was able to avert danger, reports Tixio.
Not only are such incidents tragic, they also shed light on the challenges nursing homes face when it comes to fire safety. As the Reutlingen Police Headquarters noted, the need for more security measures in these facilities is now urgent. In particular, the dangers of smoking near oxygen devices are repeatedly highlighted. This is one of the most common causes of fires in old people's and nursing homes, which recorded a total of 176 fires in 2022 with 295 injuries and 17 fatalities. An increase in fire accidents was also noted in 2023, as TÜV Süd reported.
Fire protection measures required
The particular vulnerability of residents in care facilities - many of them with physical and mental limitations - poses a particular challenge. In the event of a fire, escape options are often limited and the safety of residents has the highest priority. Therefore, rapid evacuations by trained personnel and suitable technical measures are essential. What is important, among other things, are fire and smoke protection doors, regular fire drills and awareness-raising measures regarding how to deal with fire.
Safe design of the facility and structural fire protection measures should be taken into account when building or renovating nursing homes. How News Today As noted, not only structural aspects must be taken into account, but also organizational rules, such as keeping escape routes clear or training fire protection assistants among the staff.
Overall, these incidents show how important a tangible and preventative approach is to fire protection in care facilities. The safety of everyone involved must always be the top priority in order to prevent such sad events in the future.