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Fire safety for healthcare staff

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, February 20, 2004

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Question: A surgical team is in the midst of throat surgery when black smoke starts coming in through the room's air vents. A fire alarm goes off.

The surgeon makes the call to evacuate the operating room even though the patient's surgical wounds remain open. What should the surgeon do?

Answer: Surgical team members must know how to disconnect medical gases, break down clinical medical equipment to bring with the patient, and the location of the "safe zone" for patient relocation.

In response to the decision to relocate, the team should do the following:
* the circulator nurse should clear the pathway to the door
* the anesthesiologist should shut down oxygen and disconnect related equipment
* the scrub nurse should take any instruments needed to stabilize or close the patient
* the surgeon should protect the wound site
* and the team as a whole should help wheel the patient to the safe zone

If the fire is too large (for example, if it climbs along the walls from the trash can), the nurse should evacuate the patient, remembering to close the door after leaving the room. Meanwhile, other staff members should pull the alarm and dial the facility's designated fire number.

Editor's note: The above case scenario is from the new online course "Fire safety for the health care staff: Beyond fire drills." For more information on this and other Safety courses go to www.hcprofessor.com and click on Safety/Infection Control Training.

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