AN EVALUATION OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL FIRE TRAINING BASE ON EXAMPLE OF HOSPITAL STAFF

A key factor for hospital patients' safety in case of fire is staff behavior. Timely and correct decisions applied for practical solutions stipulate fire safety of vulnerable hospitals occupants. In order to research staff behavior a special technique called computer video presentation was applied. This is an edited videotape shown on computer monitor. The tape starts with normal operation of hospital ward with an aim to put staff member into the modeling situation. Following film scenario sometimes later during staff daily duties fire breaks out in the ward. It is demonstrated by fire alarm sound, flame burning or smoke spread. At this time the tape stops, and staff member was asked to describe and explain their behavior as a response to this situation. Addition scenarios were developed for day or night time operation and also with a male or female as a main character of the film. In total 12 scenarios were developed and 360 staff members were interviewed. It has been found that type of fire cue, time of the day, gender of staff and their work experience stipulate various staff behavior. In general, only 36,4 % followed fire instructions and it is important to note that the lowest percentage of staff (18,3 %) were in the group who faced with fire, that indicates that hospital staff is less ready to deal with flame burning. The study revealed that all variability of behavioral acts should be limited to required set of actions with deep understanding what should be done and in what order