“Seconds Count” Medical Emergencies in Residential High-Rise Buildings.

Implementing enhanced Condo emergency procedures provides residents a higher chance of survival in the event of a medical emergency.  This is a fact, and well documented from lessons learned during Medical emergencies / journals in Canada. Building Supervisory Staff, and even residents should be trained on how to reduce vertical response times in the event of a medical emergency at your building.

People who experience a cardiac arrest on the third floor or above of a high-rise building have lower survival rates; according to recent research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal 

The Ontario property management response to this alarming research?   Property Managers and Condo Boards have begun to meet this challenge head on, with solutions that not only reduce “vertical” response times, they ensure the residents of your building have a higher chance of surviving a medical emergency because of these actions.

Municipal emergency services; fire, police, and paramedic services alike, often experience response challenges to high-rise emergencies, and they heavily rely on the person who greets them at the door of your building; The term “Vertical response times” refer to the time it takes for Police, Fire & Emergency Medical services to get from the entrance of  your building, to the resident suite, or area of the building requiring assistance.

If your building Security personnel are aware of the impending arrival of paramedics, they can prepare to receive them, and ensure uninterrupted access to the person or persons in need.

By implementing new procedures, that bridge the gap between arriving Paramedics, and the buildings family of residents, security teams at high-rise buildings can reduced response times, providing for better patient (resident) care.  By  applying the principles of emergency management to high-rise security, and knowing what Paramedics need assistance with, prior to an emergency.

Ensure your building staff are crossed trained for medical emergencies, and are aware of what the paramedics require when they arrive at your building.  The following will reduce response times in your building;

1) Resident Information & Emergency Contact information:  Building management should at all times have an up to date list, complete with rapid access of this information.

2) Paramedics require the lobby revolving doors propped open prior to their arrival - To allow the medical gurney to move inside with ease…meaning it does not matter what type of door you have, if its open, with security on hand waiting…the response is seamless.  Property Managers need to ensure this is a part of your buildings security procedures.  It is recommended that Security teams review "revolving / sliding door" collapse procedures on an annual basis. 

3) When the fire alarm rings in your building, typically the elevators are grounded to ensure rapid access to fire departments upon their arrival.  With medical emergencies in your building, elevators do not ground, and more than often, paramedics are forced to wait for elevators, and even get inside elevators with residents, further delaying the response. 

In addition to the delays, resident more than often call 911 directly, and in the panic of the situation, do not think of phoning building security as they are focused on the task at hand.  Residents need to be informed that after calling 911, residents notify building security. Your security / Concierge team can shave minutes of a medical response time by ensuring the elevator is waiting at the ready for when Paramedics arrive in your lobby.  This not only provides for a dedicated, unrestricted route to the emergency scene, it reduces response times.  Security personnel should already be trained on elevator emergency recall and fire service operations as per the fire code – so here’s another benefit to a highly trained guard. 

3) Paramedics require unrestricted access when they arrive.  Parked vehicles found idling in your building’s fire route, shall be cleared prior to their arrival.   

4) It 2016.  The residents expect an AED in the lobby of all high-rise buildings as these machines save lives every day !  In Toronto, Canada, high-rise residences are now home to 40% of over-65’s.  They also expect a trained security professional, first Aid, CPR & AED Certified, (Oxygen Management & Administration Certification is also recommended due to the huge population using home oxygen care.) complete with working knowledge of this medical equipment.    

5) Property Managers should have detailed procedures for residents to follow, including calling / notifying building security, after 911 has been called for medical emergencies.  This allows building security personnel to ensure the building is ready to receive the arriving emergency services - Reducing response times.

6) You get what you pay for.  Your building security guard is quite simply, the first person to respond to your resident needs, during fire, safety and security concerns.  They are in fact, your building police, fire and ambulance, for the first five minutes of any emergency.   Make sure we give them the tools.  Ensure your security service provider is on the same page with respect to Emergency preparedness.

7) If your building does not have security or onsite staff, Property managers are encouraged to reach out to their municipal emergency services, and inquire about a “key lock box” program.  Quite simply, this allows paramedics to access the lobby, and enter the building rapidly during emergency calls to your building.  Without access to the lobby doors, paramedics are often left with ringing residents on the intercom, hoping someone will answer…and let them in.  To quote a Senior Paramedic in Southern Ontario “We start buzzing everyone….starting at the top of that intercom list of residents - until we get into the building.”  As you can imagine, once someone lets them in….they still have to get to the elevator…push the button and await its arrival.  All taking time.

Additionally, if your building has no security, digital fire safety plans are now providing secure access to EMS during medical emergencies. a Simple, Secure technology (Safe Buildings) born right here in Toronto, has digitized over 400 buildings, and provides Police, fire and EMS secure access codes to get into the building at 2:00 AM - Benefitting both the building owner and the resident.

By reducing “vertical” response times, building owners and property managers of residential buildings can ensure the residents have a higher chance of survival….based on reducing response times. Remember, the brain begins to die within a four to six minutes window without Oxygen.

 
Jason Reid is Senior Advisor for National Life Safety Group, and specializes in High-Rise Buildings & Critical Facilities - Fire, Safety and Emergency Management.