After the fires that occurred in residences of elders in Aragon in a short time, the Government of Aragon has hardened its safety recommendations. The first one, in Villafranca de Ebro, left 10 deaths and was caused by the overheating of a mobile loading under a pillow. The second, most recent, took place in the domusvi zalfonada residence of Saragossa. Although the investigation remains open and the cause has not been determined, the first hypotheses point to an electric battery.
In this context, the Department of Social Welfare and Family of the Government of Aragon has developed an informative note aimed at all residential centers with new recommendations in fire prevention, with special attention to electronic devices and daily habits that could generate risk.
The battery of a mobile, cause of the fire of the residence of Villafranca where 10 people died
One of the most relevant novelties of the document is the express warning of not loading mobiles, electric chairs or other similar devices during the night. In the case of the chairs, it is recommended that the recharges be made only in enabled spaces, which have adequate and sectorized facilities of the rest of the center.
These types of measures intend to avoid incidents such as the one that occurred in Villafranca, where a battery in poor condition, plugged under a pillow while the resident slept, unleashed a lethal fire. The text also insists on the importance of reviewing that there are no unnecessarily plugged chargers during night hours.
More control over cables, strips and devices
The informative note reviews the most frequent factors in the fires recorded in residences: short circuits, defective chargers, superheated batteries, overloaded or uncommooling strips, carelessness in the kitchen or the use of poorly turned off candles and cigarettes. Given this, it is urged to eliminate the multipliers of current shots, to regularly review the status of cables and plugs, and to prohibit the interior parking of scooters and electric bicycles, which also work with lithium batteries susceptible to overheating.
Another of the indicated measures has to do with tobacco consumption, one of the usual factors when generating fires. It is recommended that each residence know and take into account the habits of users regarding tobacco in their individualized care plans. From there, it is requested to keep any element susceptible to cause fire, such as lighters or matches, and establish areas enabled to smoking, correctly marked and ventilated.
More surveillance at night
The document underlines the importance of performing periodic rounds through the center, at least one per hour, during the night. These inspections must verify that everything works correctly and that there are no improper plugs.
It is also required that, at least, there is a worker for every 35 residents, and that at least one of them has advanced evacuation training. The fire doors must be closed if they are not essential for the activity of the center, and the kitchen or laundry should not be used at night. It is also requested to disconnect appliances when they are not in use and avoid any source of unnecessary heat.
Security reinforcement
From the Aragonese Executive, it is also proposed to improve infrastructure with measures such as installing fireproof materials (curtains, mattresses, furniture), creating shelter areas, reinforcing compartmentalization between plants and expanding the number of emergency exits. The need to keep the evacuation plans and perform simulacros frequently.
These recommendations do not replace current legislation, but suppose an intermediate step while the promised change in the residences regulatory decree materializes.
