ISLAMABAD, Sep 05 (APP):The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) has decided to make comprehensive fire safety education and training mandatory for house officers in all medical and dental colleges. The required dedicated training included training on fire prevention, emergency drills, patient safety and evacuation procedures to strengthen preparedness and protect patients, students, doctors and healthcare staff during fire emergencies. The decision, announced by PM&DC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, …
PM&DC makes fire safety training mandatory for House Officers
ISLAMABAD, Sep 05 (APP):The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) has decided to make comprehensive fire safety education and training mandatory for house officers in all medical and dental colleges.
The required dedicated training included training on fire prevention, emergency drills, patient safety and evacuation procedures to strengthen preparedness and protect patients, students, doctors and healthcare staff during fire emergencies.
The decision, announced by PM&DC President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj, follows a review of existing fire safety protocols and aims to address gaps in emergency preparedness at medical colleges and teaching hospitals.
The programme will include regular fire drills and evacuation exercises, identification of fire hazards, proper use of fire extinguishers, evacuation routes and effective emergency communication.
This decision will enhance fire safety awareness and preparedness and will ensure the safety and well-being of doctors, patients, students and staff in healthcare institutions.
President PM&DC Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj in his statement, stressed that the decision to implement a mandatory fire safety training program for House Officers will be incorporated into their house job.
Dedicated training hours will be allocated to cover fire safety awareness, emergency fire drills, patient safety, and appropriate evacuation procedures to be followed in the event of a fire emergency.
This decision will follow a comprehensive review of the existing fire safety protocols and the identification of areas that need improvement.
“PM&DC recognizes that there is a need to strengthen fire safety education and awareness in institutions under its regulatory umbrella.”
He said PM&DC is committed to quickly addressing the gaps and improving fire-emergency preparedness among students, healthcare professionals, patients, and staff.
He said all medical colleges and teaching hospitals will have to ensure vigorous fire safety arrangements and effective emergency preparedness for the protection of students, house officers, patients, healthcare professionals and other staff.
He highlighted that hospitals care for some of the most vulnerable people, who depend on healthcare staff to respond quickly and effectively during a fire emergency.
He therefore stressed the need for medical institutions to improve their existing fire prevention and emergency response measures.
President Prof. Dr. Rizwan Taj expressed his interest in expanding this training program to medical students and postgraduates and eventually all healthcare professionals, as this is considered an essential skill for healthcare workers across the globe.
He said PM&DC intends to promote the safest and highest quality of learning environments and looked forward to establishing new protocols that focus on emergency preparedness rather than relying solely on emergency response teams.
The PM&DC has outlined some of the measures that would be covered by the fire safety program for medical house officers.
The program will include regular fire safety drills and evacuation exercises, to be conducted in medical colleges and teaching hospitals so that a culture of preparedness and prompt and effective response is established.
House officers will also be trained to identify fire hazards, use extinguishers, follow evacuation routes, and communicate emergencies effectively.
