On November 15, 2020, a fire broke out in a nursing facility’s maintenance garage in New York. A week after the fire, COVID-19 was spreading through the facility. As of December 22, 2020, 20 residents have died from COVID-19 and 125 residents and 74 staff have tested positive for COVID-19. There are another five residents hospitalized due to COVID-19.
In order to keep everyone safe from the fire, the residents and staff were evacuated from the building and into the parking lot. Residents from all different units congregated together in the parking lot. The fire was contained to the garage, and residents were then taken back into the building. No one was seriously injured from the fire.
Afterward, the nursing home worked with state health officials to contain the COVID-19 virus, and it is believed that there is a connection between exposures during the fire and the spread of COVID-19 in the facility.
Issue
The safety of residents and staff is always the priority when dealing with an emergency. Each facility’s Emergency Preparedness Plan should outline procedures necessary for all levels of staff during an emergency, and should also contain relevant procedures for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases during an actual emergency.
Discussion
- Review the facility’s Emergency Preparedness Plan to ensure that it includes procedures that should be taken during an emergency to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and other communicable diseases by separating COVID-19 positive residents and the staff caring for them from COVID-negative residents and their caregivers when clustering during an emergency relocation.
- Train all staff on the facility’s Emergency Preparedness Plan, including how to maintain isolation/quarantine conditions should emergency relocation of residents need to occur. Document that the trainings occurred, and file the signed training document in each employee’s education file.
- Periodically audit to ensure that staff from all departments and shifts are aware of the expectations for their roles during an emergency. Conduct periodic drills to determine their understanding and competency, including a focus on maintaining infection prevention strategies during an emergency.
