Fire Blankets for Care Homes and Assisted Living

Care homes and assisted-living facilities protect residents who may have limited mobility, reduced awareness, sensory impairments or slower response times. A relatively small fire can therefore become life-threatening more quickly than in many other environments.

A fire blanket may provide trained staff with a controlled first response to a small, contained and fully coverable fire. It must support, rather than delay, the facility’s alarm, evacuation and resident-assistance procedures.

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Common fire risks in care environments

Typical early-stage incidents may include:

• pan fires in communal or staff kitchens;
• clothing, bedding or textiles catching fire;
• small electrical-appliance fires after power isolation;
• chargers or portable equipment overheating;
• small laundry or linen-related incidents; and
• compact, fully coverable objects catching fire.

A conventional fire blanket is only appropriate while the incident remains small, safely accessible and capable of being covered completely.

What Fire Classes Can a Fire Blanket Be Used On? →

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Why fire blankets may suit care facilities

A fire blanket contains no pressurised cylinder and does not discharge water, foam or powder. This may be valuable in environments containing vulnerable residents, medical equipment, food and sensitive furnishings.

Relevant advantages include:

• compact and clearly visible wall-mounted storage;
• no discharged extinguishing residue;
• a straightforward operating principle for instructed staff;
• suitability for small cooking-oil fires when properly tested;
• potential use for clothing fires when the blanket is sufficiently large; and
• the ability to complement extinguishers and evacuation procedures.

A straightforward operating principle does not mean that no training is required. Staff should understand the blanket’s limitations, the facility’s emergency plan and their responsibilities for assisting residents.

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Resident safety and evacuation come first

In a care environment, staff may need to assist people who cannot evacuate independently. Attempting to extinguish a fire must not prevent staff from:

• raising the alarm;
• closing fire-resisting doors where appropriate;
• moving residents according to the evacuation strategy;
• calling the emergency services;
• maintaining safe staffing and supervision; or
• following the facility’s personal emergency evacuation plans.

A fire blanket should only be used when the incident can be approached safely and intervention will not compromise resident evacuation or staff safety.

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Where should fire blankets be installed?

Placement should follow the facility’s fire-risk assessment and evacuation strategy. Each blanket must be visible, unobstructed and accessible from the safer side of the identified risk.

Possible locations include:

• near the exit from a communal or staff kitchen;
• at a safe position near a laundry or linen area;
• outside a room containing an identified small-appliance risk;
• in practical or therapy areas where heat-producing equipment is used; and
• at designated staff emergency points.

Do not mount a blanket directly above a cooker, heater or appliance, or inside a cupboard where staff may need to search for it.

Blankets should not obstruct corridors, fire doors, mobility equipment or evacuation routes.

Where Should You Keep a Fire Blanket? →

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How staff should use a fire blanket

Only consider deployment when the fire is small, stationary, safely reachable and fully coverable.

1. Raise the alarm and alert colleagues.
2. Begin the required resident-protection or evacuation procedure.
3. Keep a clear escape route behind you.
4. Switch off heat or electricity only when this can be done safely.
5. Pull the release tabs firmly downward.
6. Hold the blanket so that it protects your hands and upper body.
7. Place it carefully over the complete burning area.
8. Do not move a burning pan, appliance or object.
9. Leave the fire covered until the material has cooled fully.

If conditions worsen, stop the intervention and follow the evacuation plan.

How to Safely Use a Fire Blanket →

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Clothing and bedding fires

Clothing fires require immediate action. The person should be told to stop, drop and roll where possible. A trained staff member may then use a sufficiently large fire blanket to help smother the flames.

When applying a blanket to a person:

• keep the face and airway uncovered;
• cover from the shoulders downward;
• do not wrap tightly around the neck;
• keep the person on the ground while smothering the flames;
• call the emergency services; and
• begin appropriate burn first aid immediately afterwards.

Cool affected skin with cool running water for at least 20 minutes where possible. Do not remove clothing that has melted or adhered to the skin.

Fire Blankets for Clothing Fires →

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Electrical appliances and medical equipment

Electricity is not a separate formal European fire class. Energised equipment does, however, create additional shock and arc hazards.

A fire blanket may only be considered for a small appliance fire when:

• the electrical supply has been isolated safely;
• the incident remains confined to the appliance;
• the complete burning object can be covered;
• no exposed live components are within reach; and
• no developed lithium-ion battery incident is involved.

Do not touch damaged cables, plugs or medical equipment. Do not move a burning, swollen or venting battery-powered device.

Life-supporting or essential medical equipment should only be isolated in accordance with the facility’s clinical and emergency procedures.

Fire Blankets for Electrical Appliance Fires →

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Choosing the correct size

1 × 1 m fire blanket

A 1 × 1 m blanket is suitable for many small, contained risks such as:

• standard pans in staff kitchens;
• small cooking-oil fires;
• compact appliances after power isolation; and
• small, fully coverable objects.

1.2 × 1.8 m fire blanket

Within the DVM range, the 1.2 × 1.8 m fire blanket is the preferred size where clothing-fire or bedding-fire preparedness is identified. It provides substantially greater body coverage than the 1 × 1 m version.

The larger size may also be appropriate in professional kitchens, laundries or other areas where wider equipment must be considered.

The chosen blanket must remain manageable for the staff members expected to deploy it.

What Size Fire Blanket Do I Need? →

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Safety Bag or Premium Box?

Premium Box

A rigid Premium Box may be preferable for:

• permanent wall-mounted installation;
• communal kitchens and corridors;
• areas used by multiple staff members;
• strong visual recognition; and
• locations where the packed blanket needs additional protection.

Safety Bag

A flexible Safety Bag may suit:

• smaller rooms with limited wall space;
• mobile care or maintenance equipment;
• temporary or specialist risk areas; and
• locations where a compact format is preferred.

An operational blanket should not be buried in an emergency trolley or hidden behind other equipment. It must remain clearly identified and immediately accessible.

The choice between bag and box should follow the facility risk assessment, installation environment and expected users.

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When should staff not use a fire blanket?

Do not attempt blanket deployment when:

• the fire is spreading rapidly;
• smoke or heat affects visibility or escape routes;
• several rooms, objects or ignition points are involved;
• the burning area cannot be covered completely;
• gas, chemicals, fuel or battery cells create additional hazards;
• resident evacuation or assistance would be delayed;
• safe staff access cannot be maintained; or
• personal safety is uncertain.

Follow the facility’s alarm, compartmentation, evacuation and emergency-service procedures.

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Inspection, records and replacement

DVM recommends a documented visual inspection at least once every year. Professional care environments may require more frequent checks under their maintenance procedures.

Confirm that each blanket:

• remains at its designated location;
• is visible and unobstructed;
• has intact packaging, mounting and pull tabs;
• has readable instructions and identification;
• shows no visible damage or contamination;
• has not been deployed or removed without authorisation; and
• is included in the facility’s inspection records.

Routine inspection should normally be performed without fully unfolding the blanket.

Replace a blanket after deployment on an actual fire. Do not wash, clean, repair or refold it for emergency reuse.

Fire Blanket Inspection & Maintenance →

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Samenvatting

Fire blankets can provide trained care staff with a controlled first response when:

• the fire is small, contained and fully coverable;
• resident protection and evacuation are not delayed;
• the blanket is visible and safely accessible;
• the correct size has been selected; and
• staff understand the product’s use and limitations.

For small kitchen and appliance risks, the DVM 1 × 1 m fire blanket provides compact, independently tested protection. Choose the 1.2 × 1.8 m version where greater coverage or clothing-fire preparedness is required.

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Choose a fire blanket for care environments

View the workplace fire blanket guide →

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Further information

• Blusdeken FAQ
• Fire Blankets for Clothing and Person Fires
• Europese Blusdeken Referentiespecificatie
• View DVM Fire Blankets