The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said a seminar on fire response for nursing homes and convalescent hospitals was held in Miryang, South Gyeongsang, on the 16th.
This seminar was organized to share how to respond to fires in nursing homes and convalescent hospitals, which are vulnerable to fire accidents, and to discuss accident prevention measures.
Nursing homes and convalescent hospitals, due to the nature of their facilities, have a high number of elderly people, making fire accidents potentially more harmful. In 2018, a fire at Miryang Sejong Hospital resulted in 51 deaths, and in 2014, a fire at Jangseong Hyosarang Convalescent Hospital led to 21 deaths.
The seminar began with a presentation by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the topic "Current Status and Vulnerable Factors of Fires in Nursing Facilities." Following this, the National Fire Research Institute introduced practical evacuation plans for evacuees with vulnerabilities and overseas examples, and the Miryang Fire Station made a presentation on developments after the Sejong Hospital fire.
Additionally, fire preparedness cases being pursued at Deok-in Nursing Home and policy suggestions by private experts were shared.
Lee Han-kyung, head of the Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters, noted, "Since nursing facilities have many patients who find it difficult to evacuate on their own, thorough preparation is crucial," adding, "We will actively incorporate the on-site opinions discussed in this seminar into policies to ensure safety management."