Nursing homes across America would, for the first time, have to install sprinkler systems throughout their buildings if they wish to continue to serve Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, under a new regulation proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today.
“CMS正在采取进一步的行动，通过经过验证的消防安全方法来保护我们的受益人的生活，”CMS的代理管理员Leslie V. Norwalk说。“自动喷水灭火系统对养老院的安全性是一体的，我们期待着在全国各地的所有护理家庭中安装。”
As an interim step toward today’s announcement, in March 2005, CMS began requiring all nursing homes that did not have sprinklers to install battery-operated smoke alarms in all patient rooms and public areas. Lack of smoke alarms in the facilities in Hartford and Nashville that had fatal nursing home fires in 2003 may have contributed to a delayed response time to the fires, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office issued in July 2004.
CMS已经采取了许多行动来提高过去几年的居民安全，例如2004年至2005年之间进行的生命安全守则（LSC）检查数量增加17倍。该机构还将发布LSC违规的数量以及在今年年底，在其护理家庭上的每个护理家庭的烟雾报警和喷淋系统的信息，以及今年年底的网站。
根据现有的CMS法规，新建的护理家庭和护理家庭正在进行重大装修，改建或现代化，必须配备喷水灭火系统。目前，旧家庭不需要具有此类系统。
“While new facilities must already meet sprinkler requirements, this proposed rule would require all nursing homes to do so.” Norwalk added. “We appreciate the collaboration of the National Fire Protection Association and stakeholders throughout the industry in making these safety improvements as soon as possible.”
CMS follows the fire safety guidelines developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and all new sprinkler systems installed as a result of this proposed rule will have to meet NFPA technical specifications.
The proposed rule asks for public and industry input on an appropriate phase-in time to allow older homes to retrofit their facilities. The comment period will remain open until December 26, 2006.
For more information on the proposed rule, visit:http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-17911.pdf
