Matron praises Summerland staff after fire evacuation
PRAISE has been heaped on the quick and coordinated response from nursing home staff, the emergency services and volunteers who all helped to evacuate elderly residents from a nursing home during a fire on Liberation Day.
The St John Ambulance and Rescue Service declared a major incident at Summerland House Nursing Home in Mount Durand, St Peter Port, on Liberation Day, and called for back-up to help get the elderly residents out of the property safely, with many of them having limited or no mobility.
No injuries were suffered as a result of the fire, which occurred in the lift shaft, and matron Cathy Bailey described how everyone pulled together to help all the residents outside.
She said a tarpaulin was put around a car shelter to provide protection from the elements for some residents and others were taken into the staff accommodation.
Off-duty St John staff and volunteers helped with the mass evacuation of around 50 residents, together with Guernsey Fire and Rescue.
Blankets were handed out and residents were kept safe and reassured.
'It was so heartening to see how everyone seemed to appear out of nowhere to assist us,' said Mrs Bailey.
