Fire Safety in the Operating Room: Strategies for Keeping It Safe

Approximately 100 fires occur in the operating room every year, many times with devastating effects. It is vital that staff who work in the surgical environment be familiar with fire prevention strategies and what to do if a fire does occur.

Clinical Advisor(s):
Wava Truscott, PhD
Kathleen B. Stoessel, RN, BSN, MS
Jay Sommers, PhD
Onita Cox, RN
Wanda Faircloth, RN, BSN, MICN, CEN
Susan Kerr, CRNA

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Learning Objective: To increase awareness of the risks for fire in the operating room and provide knowledge needed to develop and enhance fire safety initiatives

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Preventing a fire incident in the surgical suite is a patient safety imperative, as the consequences can be devastating to patients and staff alike. This program helps staff who work in the surgical environment become familiar with fire prevention strategies and what to do if a fire does occur.

Highlights from this program include:

• An overview of fire safety in the OR
• The components of the fire hazard triangle
• Measures to prevent operating room fires
• Actions to take in case of fire
• Steps to take after a fire occurs

Use this program for:

• New Employee Orientation
• Annual In-Service
• Mandatory Training
• Nursing Education
• Remedial/Risk Reduction Training
• Medical Staff Education

This program funded in-part through an unrestricted educational grant provided by

 

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