Fire sprinklers needed in nursing homes
(Original publication: October 2, 2003)

The tragic nursing home fire at the NHC Healthcare Center in Nashville, Tenn., has already claimed at least eight lives with scores injured. In February, a fire tore through the Greenwood Health Center Nursing Home in Hartford, Conn., killing 16 elderly residents. When will the carnage stop?

While most new nursing homes are required to install automatic fire sprinkler systems, there are hundreds that aren't protected. They were built before modern building codes were adopted. What is needed is federal legislation to protect unsprinklered nursing homes, and we need it today. Write your congressman demanding action before another fire tragedy occurs tomorrow.