Fire Extinguishers & Gas Shut Off
Location of gas shut off valves.
Outside of each OR room.
15-20 seconds
The time delay when pulling the fire pull station.
True or False: We should evacuate for every surgical fire.
False.
When fire prevention assessment should be performed.
Before the start of the procedure (and/or in the time-out)
The body location where most surgical fires occur.
Head, neck, upper chest (44%)
Types of shut off valves for each room.
WAG, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, air, oxygen, CO2
Color of the pull stations
Red!
Where the drapes should be thrown when removing burning drapes from a patient.
Away from the door, NOT blocking the exit.
This should be done with alcohol-based preps to prevent surgical fires.
Allowing adequate dry time before draping, preventing pooling of prep, throwing prep away outside room.
The three components of the fire triangle.
Ignition source, oxidizer, and fuel.
Amount of fire extinguishers in the OR.
Main: 9
PAV: 2
CVOR: 1
Amount of pull stations in the OR.
Main: 7
PAV: 4
CVOR: 0
Number of exits directly to outside.
Main OR: TWO. One exit near OR 15 and one out of the dog leg.
Pav OR: None (Back elevator....but not in a fire!)
CVOR: None
This should be done with electrical equipment to mitigate fire risk.
Check tags for maintenance dates, ensure cords aren't frayed or broken, never disable audible alarms.
Surgeries above this anatomical marker are considered a higher risk for fire.
Xiphoid process
Acronym for using a fire extinguisher.
P-Pull
A-Aim
S-Squeeze
S-Sweep
Detail your exit plan out of the operating room.
You should think about how you will evacuate from each room you work in, as your plan will be different based on your location. Think about stairs, exit to other buildings/outside, and what if your primary way is blocked?
Acronym for fire response.
R-Rescue
A-Alarm
C-Confine
E-Evacuate
Item that should be kept on the sterile field in case there is a surgical fire.
Sterile fluids
Detail the steps for smothering a fire with a towel.
Hold the towel between the fire and patient's airway. Drop the end of the towel closest to patient's head. Drop the other end of the towel over the fire. Sweep your hand over the towel from the patient's head towards their feet.
NEVER pat.
Raise the towel while keeping your body away from the fire.
Who can turn off the gas supply?
Charge nurse, supervisor, director, and DCO.
-In the OR, everyone in the room should be notified about gas shut off, the circulator can shut off gas, and a person mentioned above should be notified of gas shut off.
Location of 3 pull stations
Main: Front entryway, across from pre-op doors, across from PACU doors, ICU hallway, between 15/12/14 (both walls), at outside exit by OR 15.
PAV: Entry to back elevator hallway, outside OR 3, across from equipment room, back exit of OR (near soiled utility), Front hallway entry/exit door
CVOR: CVICU back elevator, Pre-Op nurses desk, PACU nurses desk
Why should drapes be removed when there is a fire on the patient?
The drapes are impervious, so there could potentially be a fire UNDER the drapes.
Name other methods for fire prevention during surgical procedures.
Saline on field, wet towels, lights in standby mode, inspecting equipment to ensure it's not broken before use, using cautery holster, only the person using the equipment operates is (don't push pedal/button for someone else), tent drapes for oxygen flow, ensure no oxygen leaks, remove prep-soaked linen from the room, wait three minute dry time, time-out/fire risk assessment
After a fire event, this should be done.
Saving all materials for a fire investigation