Free Blackout by Jan Christensen Page B

procedure to follow when someone first noticed a fire, how to close off sections of the building, and how to evacuate residents.
    When the film ended, Sally took them outside and showed them how to use the fire extinguisher and told them about the Dr. Redd code. “When you hear ‘Call for Dr. Redd, Call for Dr. Redd,’ you know there’s a fire somewhere in the building. Immediately start closing off your section of the building. Follow the other procedures in the film.”
    Alice was glad when the class was over. She didn’t even want to think about a fire. Skirting a group of people who had gathered in the hall outside the conference room, Alice went back to the 300 wing.
    Joyce pushed the cart with extra pitchers, glasses, ice, and juice. “I’m glad you’re back! Can you finish this while I give some bed baths?”
    “Sure,” Alice said.
    It was three o’clock before she knew it. Not until she walked in the front door at Hannah’s house did she remember she’d meant to speak to Brenda. She hesitated in the hall, debating whether she should go back. She felt so tired.
    Surely, it could wait another day.

CHAPTER 8
    After the staff meeting, Betty went to Katherine’s office. The administrator was on the phone, but she waved Betty to the visitor’s chair. Betty got comfortable and watched Katherine play with her pen as she talked to a resident’s daughter.
    “Yes, Mrs. Adams, we’ll take care of it. … I’ll investigate, I promise. … Yes, I know. Sometimes this is what happens, you understand. … No, no, I’ll check into it.” She rolled her eyes at Betty and grimaced. “Yes, please come see me the next time you’re here. … Right. … Okay. … Yes. … Good-bye, Mrs. Adams.”
    Katherine put the phone down with obvious relief.
    “Family member sees deterioration in mother, thinks it’s our fault. Says her skin appears gray, and she’s gotten two new small bedsores in the last month. Lost four pounds, too. Quite an observant woman.”
    “She sure is. That’s Mrs. Reynolds’s daughter, isn’t it?” When Katherine nodded, Betty continued, “I’ll check on it for you. Have to start somewhere about the decubiti. Might as well start with Mrs. Reynolds. Lost weight, huh? Think I’ll do a correlation chart with decubs and weight loss. Although four pounds isn’t much,” she mused. “So tell me, how’d the rest of the place do on the inspection?”
    Katherine went over all the scores with her. Betty winced when she found out Brenda had a better score in Social Services than Nursing had received.
    “What are you going to do about Activities?” Betty asked when Katherine finished.
    “Ah, Yolanda,” Katherine said, leaning back in her chair. “Her heart’s in the right place, but she isn’t very organized or good with resident records. I think with this resident load she needs an assistant.”
    “Good idea,” Betty said. “She can’t get enough volunteers in this small town. I know just the person, too. Let me hire another aide, then Alice Strong can be Yolanda’s assistant. She appears to be a little too sensitive to do direct resident care. But she’s young, and I bet she’d like doing activities with them.”
    “All right,” Katherine said, tapping her pen on the desk. “I’ll check with Maxwell to see if we can get it worked into the budget. I’m sure we can.” Katherine smiled her cat’s-got-the-cream smile.
    Betty thought, I’ll bet you’ll work it out. It helps when you go to bed with the regional director. Will you and Maxwell discuss it there or over cocktails and dinner? Be nice , she told herself. It’s none of your business .
    “How’s Huey?” Betty couldn’t resist asking.
    “He’s fine. Out of town this week. Sometimes it’s difficult having a husband who’s hardly ever home.”
    “I imagine,” Betty said dryly and changed the subject. “You heard Mrs. Lacy died yesterday?”
    Katherine looked somber. She stopped playing with her pen. “Yes. A