Fire detectors to be installed at century-old KR Hospital

After the recent fire incident reported in Gulbarga, several safety measures have been chalked out at the city's century-old Krishna Rajendra Hospital (KR Hospital) and Cheluvamba Hospitals, attached to the Mysore Medical College.

Both hospitals have undertaken a review of the existing fire prevention measures. A proposal to install fire detector in the premises has been sent to the Fire Department, and firefighters personal have approached to visit the hospital and inform about the fire safety measures to be adopted.

KR Hospital Superintendent Dr Chandrashekhar said that in a couple of days talks will be held with District Fire Officer and fire detectors will be installed in the hospital.

'The Jayadeva Hospital being a five storeyed building needs to be provided with all safety measures including emergency fire exit. This apart, all other safety measures have been chalked out. New electrical grounding has been done recently, automatic shutdown of medical instruments in case of fire breakout along with auto-trip for leakage of current have been provided.'

'By installing the detectors, the device senses smoke anywhere in the building, and it will instantly spray the water to douse the fire. Such points will be provided in all rooms of the building and water is supplied through a huge overhead storage tank,' he added.

This apart, a decision has been taken to provide separate fire extinguishers in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Sick New Born Care Unit (SNCU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Cheluvamba Hospital. As of now there is only one fire extinguishers at the Cheluvamba Hospitals building.

Staff will be trained on how to use fire extingusihers, and other suggestions given by fire personnel will be adopted in the hospital. 

Speaking to Express, Cheluvamba Hospital Dr Radha Mani said that as there is huge open yard inside the Cheluvamba hospital, its an added advantage to the hospital.

'Electrical works are being inspected inside the building to replace old wires with new one. The works are almost under completion. We have three persons from electric maintenance department who work round the clock to ensure safety of the hospital. In case of power cut we have stabluisers, UPS and generators to run air conditioner at NICU, PICU, SNCU units,' she added.

The PKTB Sanatorium Superintendent Dr Veerupaksha said that we don't have any close doors in the hospital, and so far we had not adopted any fire safety measures. Anyways after the incident, we have decided to place couple of fire extinguisher in the building at two to three points.