The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing home safety, has proposed a rule that would require all nursing homes to install sprinkler systems.
The proposed rule was promulgated in response to a Government Accountability Office investigation of two nursing home fires in 2003, in Hartford and Nashville, that together claimed 31 lives. The report also found that there were, on average, 2,300 nursing home fires per year between 1994 and 1999, resulting in five deaths per year.
If you or a family member believe that you have a case involving nursing home negligence, please contact us on-line at Regan Zambri & Long or call us at (202) 463-3030 for a free consultation. If you would like to read more nursing home related articles, we recommend this article on medication errors.