Preventing fires in the OR - Patient Safety First - operating room

AORN Journal,  Oct, 2003  by Suzanne C. Beyea

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CONCLUSION

Although fires in the OR rarely occur, their outcomes can be life altering and, in some instances, may result in death. Each day in the OR, clinicians must be alert to fire hazards, strive to prevent fires, and be prepared to extinguish a fire if one should occur. Fire safety is a shared responsibility for every member of the perioperative team. Team members must anticipate the potential reality of an OR fire and prepare for such an event through regular fire drills and ensuring ready accessibility to fire extinguishing equipment in each OR.

Perioperative nurses should take a leadership role in preventing fires by alerting team members to potential fire hazards and methods to minimize related risks. By properly maintaining equipment, nurses provide the first line of defense. They also must ensure that staff members are trained and credentialed and are taking necessary precautions. Remaining vigilant and alert to potential risks will help nurses in their efforts to keep patients safe.

SAFETY COMMISSION

Patient Safety Priorities

Burns and fires are among 11 priority safety topics identified by AORN's Presidential Commission on Patient Safety. Other topics identified as priorities by the commission are

* blood transfusion,

* communication,

* correct site surgery,

* counts,

* equipment failure,

* infection control,

* medication safety,

* patient positioning,

* retained foreign objects, and

* staffing.

The commission is working to develop resources and education for each of these topics. Visit http://www.patientsafetyfirst.org for more information.

NOTES

(1.) "Preventing surgical fires," Sentinel Event Alert 29 (June 24, 2003) http://www.jcaho.org/about+us/news+letters/sentinel+event+alert /print/sea_29.htm (accessed 14 Aug 2003).

(2.) A A Skolnick, "Fires That Break Out During Surgery Are Due to Ignorance, Carelessness, Experts Say. Exact Numbers Aren't Known; Law Doesn't Require Hospitals to Report Them," St Louis Post-Dispatch, 28 May 2000, A13.

(3.) B Bryan, "Woman Dies After She is Set On Fire During Operation. Up to 20 Patients a Year Are Badly Hurt, 2 Killed in Such Accidents. St Louis Victim's Family Sues," St Louis Post-Dispatch, 28 May 2000, A1.

(4.) "A clinician's guide to surgical fires. How they occur, how to prevent them, how to put them out," Health Devices 32 (January 2003) 5-24.

(5.) "Recommended practices for electrosurgery," in Standards, Recommended Practices, and Guidelines (Denver: AORN, Inc, 2003) 237-244.

SUZANNE C. BEYEA

RN, PHD, FAAN

DIRECTOR OF NURSING RESEARCH

DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK MEDICAL CENTER

LEBANON, NH

COPYRIGHT 2003 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group