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Lesson 1, Topic 1
In Progress

Emergencies: Fire & Heat

Preparing for Fire and Natural Disasters

Emergencies can happen at any time, even in your first weeks on the job. From day one, think about how you would respond to a:

  • medical emergency,
  • fire,
  • earthquake,
  • flood, and
  • power outage

When an emergency happens, you might be the only person who can provide or get help. Make emergency awareness and preparedness a priority.

Emergency Response in Your Care Setting

Adult family homes, enhanced service facilities, and assisted living facilities have plans, policies, and procedures for responding to emergencies and disasters. If you are not sure what you should do in an emergency in your care setting, ask your supervisor. See your orientation and safety training materials to review emergency preparedness in your care setting.


If you support a client in their own home, talk with them about emergency procedures and evacuation plans. If no formal emergency plan exists, work together to make one. See Emergency Procedures and Evacuation Plans in the Resource Directory on page 320.


The client’s service plan might include information about the support they need in an emergency. Talk with the client and the care team to make sure you are prepared for an emergency.

Be Ready for Emergencies

Planning ahead and knowing how to respond to a fire or other emergency is important to you and the
client’s safety. Make sure you know the emergency evacuation procedure for your care setting. You
also need to know the location of telephones, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and flashlights or
emergency lighting.
Your workplace may conduct drills to practice evacuation. However, you might not participate in a drill before an emergency happens. Study the evacuation procedures in your facility, and practice on your own.

Responding to a Fire

The appropriate first response to a fire emergency depends on the situation. In general, follow the guidelines listed below.

  • Always help the client get to safety before you do anything else;
  • call 911 and report the fire – use a cell phone or a neighbor’s phone if necessary; and
  • if you must leave the home/building, stay as low as possible when exiting; there is less smoke closer to the floor.

Remember the word R.A.C.E. to remind you how to respond safely if you discover a fire:

Check the bottom right of page 96 for the table containing the fire procedures.

Severe Heat

Severe heat (above 90°F / 32°C) can cause illness and death. It is especially dangerous for people who are older, have health problems, or take certain medications.
Home Care Aides must know how to help clients stay cool, recognize symptoms of heat-related illness, and respond to emergency situations.

Staying Cool

Helping clients stay cool and hydrated is the best way to prevent heat-related illness. The following practices will help.

  • Stay inside. If going outside, limit time in the heat to 10 minutes, wear sunscreen and a wide-brimmed sunhat, and do not over-exert.
  • Keep shades, blinds, and curtains closed during the day. Open windows only at night, and only
    if it is cool outside.
  • Use air conditioning and fans. (Note: fans alone are not enough to prevent heat-related illness if the temperature is in the high 90s or above.)
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothes.
  • Take cool (not cold) showers or baths.
  • Encourage the client to rest.
  • Do not use the oven to cook. Offer cool meals and snacks.
  • To help lower a client’s body temperature, place cool cloths soaked in cool water on the back of their neck, wrists, ankles, and armpits.

If it is too hot inside, find a local cooling center. Check your county website for locations. Public libraries are also good resources for an airconditioned location.

Staying Hydrated

Our bodies use water to stay cool when it is hot, so it is important to help clients stay hydrated.

  • Offer plenty of liquids without alcohol, caffeine, or sugar. If a doctor has told the client to limit liquids, ask the doctor what to do in hot weather.
  • Encourage clients to drink regularly, even if they do not feel thirsty.
  • Gelatin, popsicles, and ice chips are good ways to get liquids in for clients who do not like to accept fluids.
  • Eat frozen fruit like grapes, peaches, or pineapple chunks.
  • The body loses salt when it sweats. This can cause heat cramps. Drinking fruit juice, vegetable juice, and sports drinks can help prevent or relieve heat cramps.

See Module 9, Lesson 1: Nutrition on page 174 for more information about dehydration.

Symptoms of Heat-Related Illness

At the first sign of any of these symptoms, move the client to a cooler location, have them rest and slowly drink cool water. Use cool cloths or a cool bath to help lower their body temperature.

  • Heavy sweating
  • Cold, pale skin
  • Fast, weak pulse
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Muscle cramps
  • Tiredness or weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Feeling faint

Get help right away if symptoms last more than 1 hour, get worse, or if the client is throwing up.

Heat Stroke

The following are symptoms of heat stroke, an emergency condition that requires immediate medical attention.

  • A temperature of 103°F or hotter
  • Hot red dry or damp skin
  • Not sweating, even if it is hot
  • Fast strong pulse
  • Changes in behavior, such as confusion, agitation, lethargy, staggering, being grouchy, or acting strangely
  • Passing out/losing consciousness Heat stroke is a medical emergency. If a client shows the symptoms of heat stroke, call 911.

Calling 911

The appropriate first response to a fire, medical, or police emergency depends on the situation. In most cases:

  • make sure the client is safe before you do anything else; and
  • call 911 for help in any situation or problem you think might be an emergency

Calling 911 may feel scary or embarrassing. Do not let these feelings stop you from picking up the phone. The emergency medical services (EMS) personnel who respond when you call 911 will start giving your clients medical care right away and quickly get them to the right hospital for their medical emergency. Make sure you know how to use the telephone system in your workplace to call emergency services.

When calling 911:

  • stay calm;
  • briefly describe the problem;
  • give the address and the nearest major street or intersection; and
  • stay on the phone and follow the directions of the dispatcher.

It is a good idea to keep emergency information next to the telephone or in another visible location. This information may include the address and cross street of the client’s home or care facility.

After the client is safe and the emergency is under control, notify the client’s emergency contacts. These may be listed in the service plan or in another record such as a chart or file. In an adult family home, enhanced service facility, or assisted living facility, ask your supervisor about emergency contacts and responsibilities.