I was a fire rescue dispatcher in the early 90s. The only alarms that actually scared me were calls or automatic alarms from hospitals. Later on I became a social worker in nursing homes. I've had 3 clients set themselves on fire smoking, 2 of them while wearing oxygen despite all the warnings we gave them.

No-one forgets this film. Several years ago I had the good fortune to meet the protagonist, Ms Jeannie Drynan ("Sister"). Of course I recognised her from this film. In the early 80's this film did what it was designed to do and made a very significant impression upon us Student Nurses. I said to her that I would like to sincerely thank her for her work in this film, and I described it's profound effect upon us all. I said that I still clearly remembered it 30 years later. Ms Drynan's response both delighted and surprised me; she said that she was pleased that I told her this as this film was very important to her. I cannot now recall her exact words, but the meaning was that she cared and wanted it to make an impression in order to help others. I think this shows through her excellent acting. She was was so lovely, gracious and humble. I was so pleased that I had the opportunity give heartfelt thanks from all us Nurses.

This is based off of a real event in 1961,the Hartford Hospital fire in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Every bit: the cigarette thrown down into the laundry chute; the ladders not reaching high enough, the fire shooting out of the chute; everything actually happened in the Hospital Fire. In this movie, 9 died. In the real one in 1961, 16 died.

This is almost definitely based upon a fire on Dec. 8, 1961 at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. In real life, it was traced to a cigarette tossed down a laundry chute, probably by a visitor.

Watched this film in 1982 as part of our nurses training. A mock evacuation of a ward complete with the fire brigade followed. We reenacted scenes from this film, minus the slapping! Patients smoking on the wards in the early 80's was still completely normal; doctors even did it on ward rounds. Wow, astonishing!

Looks like this was inspired by the 1961 Hartford, CT hospital fire which killed 16. The fire blasted up through the trash chute and set the 9th floor on fire. The disaster led to many improvements in fire safety for hospitals.

If anything, the one place where the "it can't happen here" syndrome happens again and again and again at nightclubs, where maximum occupancy laws are exceeded and ignored, fire code regulations regarding flammable and combustible materials are flagrantly violated, sprinkler systems are nonexistent, and fire exits are often blocked or denied access to nightclub patrons in a fire emergency.

This was so shocking. That stupid smoker will have to live with fact that his addiction cost the lives of 9 innocent people including a child. I have seen the documentary about the Hartford Hospital fire. Thank goodness safety measures have vastly improved since then.

We’ve had two patients set their beds on fire in the last ten years. Both cases we had furnished and applied nicotine patches to the patients - it’s not like we didn’t address the nicotine dependence. We also told them the dangers of if they smoked while wearing a patch. These two had been caught smoking before, and we confiscated their lighters and cigarettes on admission. So, of course, the families brought them more. Did I mention they were both on oxygen? Luckily because tragedies like this had influenced design, all we had to do was get the patient out of the room and use fire extinguishers, then closed the door and waited for the fire department to certify the fire was out. And by the way....if you set the hospital on fire, you will find yourself on the non-admit list. We will treat and stabilize, then transfer you to a facility that will take you.

It's sad that because that little girl just had to go back to get her teddy, she got herself and the male nurse who went back to save her killed. The most basic fire safety lesson of all is: Get out and stay out! Don't go back for anything or anyone!

When I trained at Royal Perth Hospital in 1968 we were shown this film. It left an indelible mark on me. I remembered the main facts and especially the child with the teddy and the male nurse.

I love how the guy who smokes realizes he started the fire.. yet he continues to smoke.

first saw this as part of my hospital fire emergency training back in 1983. still chills me as it is so real and i know concord hospital very well...

I was told they stopped showing this film to healthcare workers during orientation because some idiot sued stating the film damaged her psychologically... If she was that fragile she had no business being in healthcare... Movie definitely gives food for thought when it comes to hospital fires...

Saw this in 1983 as a first year nursing student. Brings back memories. Had a patient attack me with a CO2 fire extinguisher a few weeks ago!

I remember this film from my nurse training days. That was nearly forty years ago. Never forgot it.

Especially in a hospital, this film tells us that a few broken bones are better than death

Although made in Australia, this movie was based on the actual fire that occurred in The Hartford Hospital in AMERICA, in 1961. Things were a lot different then, 50 years ago ... and a lot of changes were made because of what happened. I was shown this movie as part of my training, when I started nursing in 1981. Scared the hell out of me!! Things are so much different now thank goodness BUT one careless act could still cause a castastophe. Makes you think!

They also filmed much of All Saints at the hospital they used for the inside scenes in this film, Concord Repatriation and General Hospital.

I saw this film (original version which was much more graphic) 3 times through out my 18 years of RN practice. It has definitely left a very significant impression on me. There was 1 code red (fire) in my years of practice. Thank God each patient's room had a fire door. The patients were safe. We did not have to evacuate the hospital. The fire company got the fire under control/put out quickly. I'm now retired, but not because of the fire. Thank the Lord for watching over us & keeping everyone safe.