Evacuation of patients during a fire at a general hospital

The epidemiology of hospital fires is described briefly, followed by a case report of the evacuation of 150 patients from a general hospital during a fire. A theoretical framework for the analysis and management of such situations is developed and illustrated. The need for flexibility in the development of disaster plans, the need to simplify plans and reduce the number of staff involved, the need to tailor plans to meet the demands of specific situations, and the need for immediate planning to reopen the facility are stressed. The development of "fire-safe" elevators to assist the evacuation of most patients is particularly important to future hospital design.