Heroine in the hospital: Nurse stops fire danger in Aurich!

Heroine in the hospital: Nurse stops fire danger in Aurich!

A remarkable incident occurred on Friday evening in the Aurich hospital, which once again underlines the importance of vigilance and quick action. A dedicated nurse noticed a noticeable burning smell in the intensive care unit around 8 p.m. Although there was initially no smoke or flames to be seen, she acted immediately and alerted the Aurich fire department Picture reported.

The fire brigade and hospital staff searched the premises intensively, supported by a thermal imaging camera. The cause of the smell was soon identified: a fire in a cable on a heater in a flushing facility. Thanks to the quick intervention of the nursing staff and the fire department, a major fire was prevented in time. The company electrician on site switched off the machine and thus eliminated the acute danger, as stated in a report by Press portal is to be read.

Fire risks in hospitals

This situation highlights the increased fire risk that hospitals and social facilities are still exposed to today. According to the Federal Association of Technical Fire Protection e.V. (bvfa), the risk of fire in such facilities remains worryingly high. In 2023, 117 hospital fires were registered in Germany, resulting in five deaths and 149 injuries. Compared to the previous year's statistics, the number of fires in hospitals has doubled. The situation is particularly critical for patients, who are often limited in their ability to save themselves Euro Security reported.

Current reporting highlights the importance of well-trained staff and modern technical safety precautions. Technical fire protection, such as the use of sprinkler systems, has proven to be an effective method of detecting fires in the early stages and slowing the ingress of smoke. The use of such systems could also bring decisive advantages in other facilities, such as retirement and nursing homes, especially in view of the alarming increase in fire incidents.

Positive examples and necessary measures

A positive aspect is the quick reaction of the nursing staff at the Aurich hospital, which could possibly have prevented something worse from happening. It should be the same in other institutions. Experts recommend that those responsible not only insist on outdated safety standards, but also invest in new technologies and fire protection training. A leaflet from the vfdb (Association for the Promotion of German Fire Protection e.V.) offers support for this and is available free of charge at www.vfdb.de.

Given these incidents and the high fire risks in social facilities, it is urgent to carry out regular training and reviews of fire safety measures. This is the only way to ensure the well-being of patients and staff in the future.