When Fire Occurs at COVID-19 Treatment and Isolation Facilities, Decontamination Vehicles and Dedicated Ambulance Teams Also Dispatched
Seoul City Prepares 'Comprehensive Accident Response Plan' for COVID-19 Facilities
Pre-secures Firefighter Access Routes and Fire Lanes ... Temporary Shelters Set Up On-site
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] In treatment and isolation facilities for COVID-19 such as residential treatment centers, infectious disease-dedicated hospitals, and screening clinics, when incidents like fires occur, in addition to fire trucks, decontamination vehicles, dedicated ambulance teams, and group transport vehicles are dispatched.
The Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters announced on the 6th that it has established a 'Comprehensive Incident Response Plan' for COVID-19 treatment and isolation facilities. This is to proactively prepare by establishing a comprehensive plan in advance, as incidents such as fires at these facilities could lead to greater infectious disease spread and casualties.
The targets of this comprehensive plan are COVID-19 related treatment and isolation facilities, including 36 residential treatment centers, 12 infectious disease-dedicated hospitals, and 82 permanent screening clinics currently operated by Seoul City.
According to the comprehensive plan, safety patrols and on-site inspections will be strengthened at COVID-19 treatment and isolation facilities. The structural characteristics of the facilities, such as the current status of confirmed patients and routes accessible to firefighters in case of fire, will be identified in advance, and locations for fire truck deployment will also be pre-checked.
When a fire occurs at these facilities, the situation is promptly communicated to fire stations and related agencies, and additional dispatch of decontamination vehicles, dedicated ambulance teams, and group transport vehicles is carried out. 119 emergency personnel will also implement COVID-19 infection prevention measures such as disinfecting the site.
An on-site emergency medical post and temporary shelter will be set up at least 2 meters away from the facility to ensure the safety of residents and prevent contact with outsiders, thereby preventing further spread of the infectious disease. Depending on the patient's condition, severe cases will be transported to hospitals designated by the COVID-19 bed allocation team, and mild cases will be transferred to residential treatment centers in cooperation with Seoul City.
The Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Headquarters will conduct a 'COVID-19 Related Facility Fire and Incident Response Drill' on the afternoon of the 6th at the 119 Special Rescue Team in Eunpyeong-gu, reflecting this comprehensive plan. The drill will simulate an actual fire situation, setting up emergency medical posts, decontamination vehicles, decontamination tents, and checking incident response procedures such as on-site quarantine and disinfection.
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Choi Tae-young, head of the Seoul Fire & Disaster Headquarters, said, "The comprehensive incident response plan for COVID-19 related facilities will contribute to saving lives and blocking infection spread through rapid response in emergencies," adding, "We will do our best to protect COVID-19 patients and prevent infection spread through the full-scale fire response system."
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