“Fire Drills are required semi-annually on each shift and shall include all occupants.” Partner in Safety also requires that there are no open fire inspection violations within your current inspection cycle. These inspections will be scheduled through our Fire Marshal’s office and will be held annually.  

Fire Drills need to be completed on your own with one scheduled with South Metro so we can provide feedback to make sure they are running smoothly.

Request SMFR’s Community Risk Reduction Team to observe one of your fire drills through the “Contact Us” Page or by emailing ReducingRisk@SouthMetro.org.  

Accidental fire alarm activations do not count as a fire drill.

Please review the correspondence below for more information on the adopted fire codes associated with emergency evacuation plans for Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Independent Living from our Fire Marshal: 

Fire Drills are essential to ensuring the safety of residents and staff during an emergency. 

Evacuations can also be complicated by mobility concerns of older adults. Consider watching our videos on how to best assist residents with mobility concerns during an evacuation provided on our Video Library page. 

Please reach out to our Community Risk Reduction Team if you have any questions regarding fire drills and evacuations. 

Handling a medical emergency can be a stressful situation, especially if at a loss of how to help. The video "Check, Call, Prepare” provides 3 simple steps to follow when calling 911 to make sure your residents are taken care of by staff and responding medical personnel. “Check, Call, Prepare” ensures our medics have all the information and paperwork required to best care for the patient. 

All of your staff are required to watch this video to know how to respond in a medical emergency. You can find this video in the "Required Videos" page. 

Check-Call-Prepare

Staff are required to participate in a training with a SMFR employee once a year. This training will cover how to run a fire drill, staff expectations during an emergency, and assisting residents during their evacuation. 

Staff are required to watch the "How To Run A Fire Drill" video in addition to this training. (Video will be added shortly) 

Reach out to ReducingRisk@southmetro.org or through our “Contact Us” page to find a date and time a specialist can visit your community to teach a class.  

Your community is required to host a SMFR employee to teach a resident class at least once a year. This class will include training on fire safety and evacuation techniques, emergency preparedness, older adult safety skills, and fall risk mitigation. 

Reach out to ReducingRisk@southmetro.org or through our “Contact Us” page to find a date and time a specialist can visit your community to teach a class.  

There are 2 Requirements for our Fall Risk Mitigation category.

1. Confirm that your staff has received training on the Code of Colorado Regulations regarding Lift Assistance.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regulates all Assisted Living Communities. For your convenience, we have provided a link to the CDPHE online newsletter with training on the rules under Chapter 7, which addresses Assisted Living Residences and department oversight.

You will find the regulations for staff lift assistance under ‘Training Modules,’ Part 12, sections 16-18.

While you are required to be familiar with and comply with any regulations pertaining to your community, the Partner in Safety application will ask you to confirm that your staff has received training on the Code of Colorado Regulations regarding Lift Assistance.

Please CLICK HERE to review these regulations. 

2. Watch "How to Help Someone Up After A Fall" Video.

Assisting an individual up from the floor can be dangerous if not done correctly. Make sure you are reviewing your protocols to safely lift community members.

Please have your staff watch "How to Help Someone Up After A Fall" for additional lifting strategies. 

Hands-Only CPR is not a certification, but studies show it is just as effective as conventional CPR if administered in the first couple minutes of a cardiac arrest emergency. The more staff who are capable of quickly administering quality compressions has been proven to dramatically improve patient outcome. Administering compressions between the time of collapse and EMS personnel arrival is essential for potential brain function post arrest.  

Have all of your staff members watch this 1-minute video on Hands-Only CPR below. 

These three videos portray scenarios caretakers and South Metro Paramedics may encounter regarding DNR/MOST Forms and end of life care.

Have your staff watch all three videos. 

Required video #1: EMT Seg 6

This scenario shows South Metro Paramedics arriving on scene of a cardiac arrest patient who does not have a DNR in place, but they have previously had conversations with family about end of life wishes. 

Required Video #2: EMT Seg 8 

This scenario shows Paramedics arriving on scene of a critical patient who has a valid DNR in place. 

Required Video #3: EMT Seg 9 

This scenario shows Paramedics arriving on scene of a cardiac arrest with a knowledgable caretaker in the room. They are able to quickly determine DNR status and honor the patient's wishes due to the caretaker's knowledge of her patient.