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Difficulty: MediumAccident, Error, and Injury Prevention

A practical nurse enters a client's room and discovers a small fire in the bedside wastebasket. The client is in bed and receiving supplemental oxygen. In what order should the nurse perform the following actions? Arrange the actions from first to last.

  1. 1Disconnect the oxygen and move the client out of the room.
  2. 2Pull the nearest fire alarm handle in the hallway.
  3. 3Close the client's room door and any open windows.
  4. 4Obtain a fire extinguisher to put out the small fire.

Answer

The correct sequence follows the RACE acronym: Rescue the client, Alarm the facility, Confine the fire, and Extinguish the fire.
The RACE acronym (Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish) dictates the exact sequence of mandatory actions during a fire. Client safety (Rescue) is always the first priority. Only after the client is out of immediate danger should the nurse alert others (Alarm), contain the hazard (Confine), and attempt to fight the fire (Extinguish).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Rescue the client
The client is removed from immediate danger.
Life safety is always the highest priority during a fire emergency, particularly when oxygen is in use in the immediate vicinity.
2
Alarm the facility
Emergency responders and other facility staff are notified.
Activating the alarm ensures that help is on the way to manage the emergency and initiate facility-wide protocols.
3
Confine the fire
The fire and smoke are contained to the room of origin.
Closing doors and windows minimizes airflow, reducing the fire's oxygen supply and protecting the rest of the facility from smoke inhalation hazards.
4
Extinguish the fire
The small fire is put out if it is safe to do so.
Once people are safe, the alarm is sounding, and the area is secured, a fire extinguisher can be used on small, manageable fires.

Key Concept

Emergency Fire Response (RACE Protocol)
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Topics

Accident, Error, and Injury Prevention

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