Mumbai doctors prescribe emergency readiness

While fires and power failures at Hospitals are rare, it’s best to be prepared for such contingencies, said city doctors after the Bombay Hospital power crisis.

It is mandatory for all hospitals to have two generators and back-up electricity source for such emergency situations.

“Earlier, when there were power failures at Hinduja Hospital, we would have extra staff monitoring the ventilator and other equipment. All sophisticated equipment, especially the ones that have come in the past five years, would work for at least an hour on battery power,” said Dr Khusrav Bajan, intensivist and head of emergency department at Hinduja Hospital. However, if power is unavailable for a long time - for instance 24 hours like in Bombay Hospital’s case - it’s a problem, added Bajan.

Also, Hinduja Hospital has organises fire and disaster drills every year. “It is good to gauge how attentive people are and to see if the hospital is prepared,” said Bajan.

According to Dr Iqbal Bagsrawala, assistant director at the 245-bed Saifee Hospital, sensitisation of fire drills is extremely important for hospital employees and security personnel. “Any big hospital should ensure that they have enough back-up in case of an emergency. The electricity service providers should be committed in providing a back-up in case of such situations,” Bagsrawala said.

Dr Vinay Joshi, pediatric intensivist and neonatologist, Kokilaben Ambani Hospital said it is important for the staff to be well versed with all emergency exits. “In ICUs and general wards, the nurses should have been trained in evacuating patients in case of an emergency,” said Joshi.