Evacuation Equipment Training Course
100% practical ski sheet and evacuation aid training for nursing home clinical staff. HIQA Regulation 28 compliant with up to 50 staff trained per day.
Course Overview
This intensive skills-based programme provides hands-on training in the safe operation of Ski Evacuation Sheets and Ski Pads for nursing home clinical staff. Through repeated practice with rescue manikins, staff build the muscle memory and confidence needed to evacuate residents safely during fire emergencies. Designed to align with HIQA guidelines and the Fire Safety Handbook, this course ensures your clinical team can demonstrate competency in evacuation equipment operation during inspections. Sessions run back to back at your facility, so a full roster can be trained in a single visit without disrupting resident care. Phoenix STS is Ireland's only authorised provider of train-the-trainer courses on the full range of Ski evacuation products.
Why This Training Matters
Most nursing homes in Ireland use a progressive horizontal evacuation strategy. Staff move residents away from the fire into a neighbouring fire compartment on the same floor. They do not try to move everyone out of the building at once. Evacuation equipment such as Ski Evacuation Sheets and Ski Pads makes this possible for residents who cannot walk.
Evacuation equipment is straightforward to use when staff have practised with it. It is slow and risky when they have not. One hour of supervised practice keeps the skill sharp and gives staff the confidence to act quickly at night or with reduced support.
What the Law and Standards Require
Regulation 28 of the Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 415 of 2013) covers fire precautions in nursing homes. These regulations are made under the Health Act 2007. They require the registered provider to make adequate arrangements for evacuating all people in the centre, and to ensure staff know the evacuation procedure. In plain terms, every member of staff must be able to use the evacuation equipment named in your fire safety plan.
The HIQA National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People (2016) set out what inspectors expect to see. During an inspection, staff can be asked to show how they would evacuate a resident using the equipment on site.
The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 also apply. Section 18(2) places a general duty on the person in control of the premises. They must take all reasonable measures to guard against an outbreak of fire and to protect everyone on the premises if a fire starts. For a nursing home, trained staff are a core part of meeting that duty.
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to give staff the instruction and training they need to work safely. That includes training in the emergency duties staff are expected to carry out. This course gives your team supervised, hands-on practice so those duties are realistic on the day they matter.
If the evacuation strategy itself needs review, our healthcare evacuation planning service supports nursing homes and designated centres.
Why Choose This Course
100% Practical Training
All training time is hands-on with real equipment. No classroom theory - staff learn by doing.
Flexible Scheduling
Morning (30 staff), afternoon (20 staff), or full-day (50 staff) options to suit your roster.
Equipment Provided
Phoenix STS supplies all training equipment including rescue manikins, protecting your facility's gear for genuine emergencies.
Small Groups
Maximum 10 learners per session ensures everyone gets adequate hands-on practice time.
Expert Instructors
Qualified People Moving and Evacuation Aid Instructors with extensive healthcare experience.
HIQA Compliant
Meets Regulation 28 requirements. Documentation provided for inspection evidence.
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for all clinical staff working within a nursing home. All learners must have completed People Moving and Handling training before attending.
Healthcare Assistants
Healthcare assistants and care assistants providing direct resident care.
Nurses & Managers
Nurses of all grades, clinical nurse managers, and senior care workers.
Night Staff
Night shift clinical staff who may need to respond with reduced support during emergencies.
What You'll Learn
Equipment Introduction & Safety
Introduction to evacuation aids at your facility
Purpose, limitations, and safety considerations for each device
Equipment inspection, maintenance, and storage requirements
Ski Evacuation Sheet Training
Correct positioning and securing of residents
Safe transfer from bed, horizontal evacuation along corridors
Controlled descent down staircases; two-person and single-person operation
Ski Pad Training
Appropriate use cases and rapid deployment techniques
Safe manoeuvring over different floor surfaces
Integration with progressive horizontal evacuation strategy
Practical Assessment
Supervised practice with rescue manikins
Demonstration of safe evacuation to place of safety
Feedback, technique correction, and confirmation of competency
Skills You'll Master
Ski Sheet Operation
Correct positioning, securing, and transport of residents using Ski Evacuation Sheets.
Horizontal Evacuation
Safe corridor evacuation techniques for progressive horizontal movement.
Stair Descent
Controlled descent down staircases with both two-person and single-person methods.
Team Coordination
Effective communication and coordination between staff during evacuation procedures.
Rapid Deployment
Quick setup and deployment of Ski Pads in emergency situations.
Safety Protocols
Pre-use checks, maintenance requirements, and storage procedures for all equipment.
Benefits
For Resident Safety
Faster evacuation times reducing smoke and fire exposure. Reduced risk of injury through correct technique. Confident emergency response through repeated practical training.
For HIQA Compliance
Demonstrable staff competency documented for inspections. Supports evacuation drills with trained staff. Aligns with HIQA's Fire Safety Handbook requirements.
For Your Organisation
High training throughput - up to 50 staff in a single day. Equipment protection as Phoenix STS provides all gear. Flexible morning, afternoon, or full-day scheduling.
Training Schedule Options
Choose the schedule that best suits your facility's roster and training needs:
Morning Only (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM)
3 sessions - Maximum 30 staff
Afternoon Only (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
2 sessions - Maximum 20 staff
Full Day (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM)
5 sessions - Maximum 50 staff
For Participants
Valid People Moving and Handling certification (required)
English language proficiency
Appropriate attire allowing freedom of movement
Medical disclosure of any conditions affecting physical participation
Facility Requirements
Profiling bed with bed linen
Access to corridors and staircases for practice
Adequate training space with good lighting
Multi-storey: proximity to lifts and stairwells
Certification
Upon successful completion, participants receive a Phoenix STS Training Certificate confirming competency in evacuation equipment operation. Certificate is valid for 1 year with annual refresher training required per HIQA guidelines.
Our Instructors
Our instructors hold memberships with leading professional bodies including NAHFO, IFE, IOSH, IIESMS, IIRSM, IHEEM, and L&DI. They combine theoretical knowledge with practical application and are qualified People Moving and Handling Instructors and Evacuation Equipment Instructors.
Why Choose Phoenix STS
Phoenix STS is the sole licensed Irish distributor for SKI evacuation products. We are also Ireland's only authorised provider of train-the-trainer courses on the full range of Ski evacuation products. That means your staff learn from instructors who know this equipment in detail.
We bring all training equipment, including rescue manikins, so your own emergency gear stays packed and ready for real use. Training is delivered nationwide across Ireland, with morning, afternoon and full-day options to suit your roster.
If you need to replace or add devices after training, we also supply evacuation mats and sheets through our equipment site, safetyequipment.ie.
Ready to Book Evacuation Equipment Training?
Get in touch to arrange 100% practical evacuation equipment training at your facility. We deliver nationwide across Ireland, and a full day on site trains up to 50 staff.
Phoenix STS is ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 9001:2015 certified and is a CPD-accredited training provider (Provider #22657).
Related Courses & Services
Nursing Home Fire Safety Training
CPD-certified 3-hour course covering fire safety essentials, extinguisher training, and evacuation techniques for all nursing home staff.
Compartment Fire Evacuation Drills
Timed compartment fire drills to test and validate your facility's evacuation procedures and staff response times.
People Moving & Handling
Required prerequisite covering safe techniques for moving and handling residents in healthcare settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Content last reviewed: June 2026.
Each session lasts one hour and is fully practical. A full day covers five sessions and trains up to 50 staff.
All clinical staff working in a nursing home should attend. This includes healthcare assistants, nurses of all grades, clinical nurse managers, senior care workers and night staff. Night staff benefit in particular because they may have to respond with fewer colleagues on duty.
Yes. All learners must hold a valid People Moving and Handling certificate before attending. Participants should wear clothing that allows free movement and tell us in advance about any medical condition that could affect physical participation.
The course covers the Ski Evacuation Sheet and the Ski Pad. Staff practise correct positioning, securing residents, safe transfer from bed, horizontal evacuation along corridors and controlled descent down staircases. All practice uses rescue manikins supplied by Phoenix STS.
Each session takes a maximum of 10 learners. Small groups mean every learner gets repeated hands-on practice rather than watching a demonstration. For larger teams we run back-to-back sessions across the day, up to 50 staff in a full day.
Participants who complete the course receive a Phoenix STS Training Certificate valid for one year. Annual refresher training is required in line with HIQA guidelines, so staff skills stay current.
Yes. Regulation 28 of S.I. No. 415 of 2013, made under the Health Act 2007, requires adequate arrangements for evacuating residents and staff who know the procedure. In plain terms, your staff must be able to use the evacuation equipment in your fire safety plan. We provide documentation you can show as inspection evidence.
We need a profiling bed with bed linen, access to corridors and staircases for practice, and a training space with good lighting. In multi-storey buildings, a training area near lifts and stairwells works best. Phoenix STS brings all training equipment, including rescue manikins.
Yes. This course is delivered on site at your facility, anywhere in Ireland. Training on your own corridors and staircases makes the skills directly relevant to your building and your evacuation plan.
Most Irish nursing homes plan to move residents into a neighbouring fire compartment on the same floor rather than out of the building. This is called progressive horizontal evacuation. The course trains staff to carry out those moves safely with Ski equipment, including transfer from bed and movement through corridors and down stairs.
Each learner practises under supervision using a rescue manikin. They must demonstrate a safe evacuation to a place of safety. The instructor gives feedback, corrects technique and confirms competency before the certificate is issued.
Phoenix STS is the sole licensed Irish distributor for SKI evacuation products. We are also Ireland's only authorised provider of train-the-trainer courses on the full range of Ski evacuation products. Your staff learn from instructors who know this equipment in detail.