Eleven residents in a Chinese nursing home outside of Beijing were killed in a fire set by one of the residents living in the hospice wing of the facility. The nursing home housed 283 residents altogether. The resident who started the fire was one of the eleven people killed. 21 residents of the hospice wing survived the fire.
For anyone who has spent time in a nursing home, the prospect of a fire is terrifying. Nursing homes in the United States as well as around the world are almost always understaffed, especially during the overnight shifts. I’ve seen nursing homes where a single staff member was responsible for over a dozen nursing home residents during the nighttime shift.
Many nursing home residents require two or more staff members to transfer them to their wheelchairs. Others can’t walk without being supported. Many suffer from dementia, and would react to an emergency evacuation with fear and aggression.
The idea that a single staff member could effectively manage an evacuation in the event of a fire is laughable, and everyone knows it. Nursing homes have no intention of maintaining the staffing necessary to manage an emergency evacuation. Instead, they rely on fire prevention. The problem with that strategy is (as any firefighter will tell you) there is no such thing as a fire-proof building.
If you have a loved one in an Illinois nursing home, it’s important to know how prepared they are for fire prevention. Nursing homes are carefully regulated for fire prevention.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website Nursing Home Compare allows you to view inspection reports for nursing homes by name or by geographic area. Part of every nursing home inspection includes Fire Safety Deficiencies.
Currently, the average number of Fire Safety Deficiencies in Illinois is just over six. The national average is 3.5. The range of Fire Safety Deficiencies ranges from 0 to 29.
If you have a loved one who has been injured in a nursing home, contact my law offices for a free and confidential evaluation of your case. Our Chicago nursing home lawyers have the experience and expertise to manage all aspects of your Chicago nursing home neglect lawsuit.
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