Pune mandates safety audits for healthcare facilities

Healthcare facilities in Pune district are now required to conduct mandatory electrical and fire safety audits. This decision comes from the public health department amid rising temperatures that raise fire hazards in hospitals. Dr. Nagnath Yempalay, the district civil surgeon, issued written orders to all rural and sub-district hospitals. These audits aim to identify and fix problems with electrical systems that could lead to fires. Hospitals must check wiring, circuitry, and transformers for potential faults. They also need to test fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems to ensure they work properly. In case any equipment is faulty, it must be repaired or replaced immediately. Hospitals should also inspect their backup power systems to keep operations running during outages. Dr. Yempalay emphasized the importance of ensuring all critical medical devices, like ventilators, are functioning properly to avoid overheating issues. Furthermore, hospitals will conduct fire safety drills to train staff on emergency evacuation procedures. With the rise in heat-related illnesses, the District Hospital in Pune has set up a special heat stroke unit with 10 beds. Rural and sub-district hospitals will have smaller units with five beds each. To help manage heat exposure, hospital administrators are advised to create shaded seating areas in outdoor spaces. They are also encouraged to limit public gatherings during the hottest parts of the day. A Rapid Response Team, equipped with ambulances, has been established in every hospital to manage emergencies effectively.