Life comes first; safety is paramount.
　　For a tertiary rehabilitation hospital that treats a large number of patients with limited mobility, fire safety is of paramount importance. In the event of a fire, evacuation is far more challenging than in typical medical facilities. Each patient’s journey to recovery carries the hopes of their family. How can we safeguard that hope? It requires not only exceptional medical expertise but also a robust and reliable fire‑safety system. Nanjing Zijin Hospital conducts two large‑scale fire‑emergency drills each year and has established a comprehensive fire‑safety management framework. Only by preparing in advance can we remain calm and composed when faced with an emergency.

　　June 2026 marks the 25th National and the 33rd Municipal “Work Safety Month,” with the theme “Everyone Speaks of Safety, Everyone Knows How to Respond to Emergencies—Identifying and Rectifying Risks and Hidden Dangers.” This month, Nanjing Zijin Hospital conducted fire‑emergency drills at its Jiangning and Qinhuai campuses.

Drill in Action: A Race Against Time to Save Lives

　　On the mornings of June 15 and June 17, the Qinhuai and Jiangning campuses each conducted comprehensive, all‑element, fully realistic fire‑emergency drills. From detecting a fire to extinguishing it, evacuating personnel, and providing medical care, every step was seamlessly integrated. All departments and units across the hospital dispatched staff to participate in the drills or observe on site, reinforcing their skills in alarm activation, evacuation, self‑rescue, and mutual assistance through hands‑on practice, thereby effectively enhancing the capability of every individual to respond to emergencies.

　　As the alarm sounded, fire‑related information was promptly and accurately relayed to all posts.

　　The exercise command team immediately activated the emergency response plan and implemented unified coordination.

　　The fire-fighting team promptly rushed to the fire location with firefighting equipment to extinguish the incipient blaze.

　　The head nurses on each floor, serving as leaders of the evacuation guidance team, immediately organized the on-duty nurses to guide patients—following the principle of “patients first, then family members; critical cases first, then less severe ones”—to evacuate in an orderly manner by bending low and covering their mouth and nose with a wet towel. Patients who are bedridden or have limited mobility were promptly transferred using wheelchairs or stretchers.

　　The security cordon team has set up a perimeter outside the building to maintain order and conduct headcounts.

　　At the assembly point, the medical rescue team provided emergency treatment and transported the simulated “casualties,” with the entire operation unfolding in a tense yet orderly manner. This was not merely a drill—it was a solemn commitment to safety.

Routine Prevention and Control: Put in the Effort on a Daily Basis

　　Drills are “training,” while daily operations are the “front line.” There is no room for “what ifs” when it comes to fire safety; accordingly, the hospital has established a comprehensive, rigorous, and routine‑based fire safety management system.

　　 Regular training ensures that everyone passes.

　　Fire safety hinges on prevention, with people at its core. Our hospital has established a comprehensive, tiered and categorized training system that covers all staff: new employees receive safety‑awareness training upon onboarding, a hospital‑wide fire‑safety assessment is conducted every six months to reinforce foundational knowledge, and security personnel undergo monthly specialized skill drills. Building on this framework, the hospital has set up a miniature fire station, whose members participate in monthly real‑world emergency response exercises, with a particular focus on enhancing their ability to handle fires in their early stages. Through systematic, ongoing training, fire‑safety knowledge is integrated as an essential competency for every role, ensuring that, in an emergency, everyone understands how to respond, knows how to operate the necessary equipment, and can step up when it matters most.

　　 Equipment maintenance, leaving no blind spots.

　　Safety facilities serve as a robust barrier against fire hazards, making regular maintenance and inspections essential. Each month, the hospital conducts comprehensive system tests on all fire‑protection equipment, including the fire alarm system, fire hydrant system, fire doors, elevators, and more, ensuring that every component is thoroughly inspected and tested without exception.

　　As a key fire‑safety area, the hyperbaric oxygen chamber not only requires medical staff to conduct thorough safety briefings and inspections prior to each session, but also undergoes monthly specialized checks by dedicated hospital personnel, ensuring that potential hazards are eliminated at the source.

　　 Regular inspections to further strengthen hazard identification and elimination.

　　All departments strictly enforce the fire‑prevention inspection system, with particular attention paid to electrical wiring, high‑power appliances, oxygen pipelines, and the unobstructed access of evacuation routes. During nighttime hours, the on‑duty chief leads joint patrols involving security, nursing, and other relevant units, covering all critical areas—including patient wards, on‑call rooms, electrical distribution rooms, and oxygen stations—to ensure round‑the‑clock, uninterrupted monitoring. Each month, the Hospital Safety Production Committee convenes a hospital‑wide, specialized safety inspection. In the lead‑up to major holidays such as Spring Festival and Mid‑Autumn Festival, the hospital conducts comprehensive pre‑holiday safety sweeps, with the leadership team personally leading teams to the front lines for thorough, grid‑style inspections of key departments, critical equipment, and sensitive operational processes, thereby guaranteeing safe and stable operations throughout the holiday period. In addition, regular targeted inspections are carried out on equipment and electrical systems—given the high incidence of battery‑powered vehicle fires and the widespread occurrence of electrical‑related fires, each potential hazard is systematically identified and addressed, leaving no room for oversight. What may appear to be repetitive routine is, in fact, a meticulous measurement of the safety baseline.

　　 Timely education and awareness come first.

　　Our hospital promptly conveys and implements all directives and publicity requirements on workplace safety issued by higher authorities, ensuring that the spirit of these policies reaches the front lines without delay. We utilize the hospital’s large display screens to continuously broadcast emergency‑response educational videos and highlight key points for identifying potential hazards, thereby reinforcing safety awareness across the entire workforce. Building on this foundation, Nanjing Zijin Hospital has thoroughly advanced the “six‑fold” approach to workplace safety within the health‑care system—namely, grid‑based management, professionalization, digitalization, full‑staff engagement, physical implementation, and standardized documentation—integrating these six dimensions—responsibility, capability, tools, participation, tangible infrastructure, and written procedures—into daily operations, so that safe practices become second nature.

　　In addition, with regard to fire‑source management, our hospital has implemented a comprehensive smoke‑free policy: smoking is strictly prohibited throughout the entire facility; conspicuous no‑smoking signs have been posted in all areas, and designated outdoor smoking zones have been established to guide staff and visitors toward compliant behavior, thereby further reducing potential fire hazards.

During Safety Production Month, we are taking action.
Peace Hospital—We Protect It Together.