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Difficulty: MediumEmergency Response Plan

A nurse enters a client's room and discovers a small fire in the wastebasket. The client is resting in bed, receiving intravenous fluids, and is physically unharmed but highly anxious. According to standard internal disaster protocols, arrange the nurse's immediate actions in the correct priority sequence.

  1. 1Relocate the client from the room to a designated safe area beyond the fire doors.
  2. 2Trigger the facility's emergency fire alarm system to alert emergency services.
  3. 3Shut the door to the client's room tightly to restrict oxygen flow and contain smoke.
  4. 4Obtain a fire extinguisher from the corridor and pull the safety pin from the handle.
  5. 5Aim the extinguisher nozzle at the base of the flames and sweep from side to side.

Answer

The correct sequence adheres to the RACE (Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish) and PASS (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) protocols: First, rescue the client; second, activate the alarm; third, confine the fire by closing the door; fourth, prepare the extinguisher by pulling the pin; and finally, aim and sweep at the base of the fire.
The correct sequence strictly follows the universally accepted nursing emergency response protocols for a fire: RACE (Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish) and PASS (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep). The nurse must prioritize human life above all else by rescuing the client first. Activating the alarm follows immediately to ensure hospital-wide response. Confining the fire by closing the door limits damage and smoke spread. Only after these steps are complete should the nurse attempt to extinguish the fire using the proper mechanical technique.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Relocate the client from the room to a designated safe area beyond the fire doors.
The client is removed from immediate danger.
Life safety is the highest priority. The 'Rescue' phase must occur before any other action to prevent injury or fatality.
2
Trigger the facility's emergency fire alarm system to alert emergency services.
Facility staff and local fire departments are mobilized.
The 'Alarm' phase ensures that additional resources and personnel are deployed to manage the disaster.
3
Shut the door to the client's room tightly to restrict oxygen flow and contain smoke.
The fire is isolated to its room of origin.
The 'Confine' phase minimizes oxygen supply to the fire and protects the rest of the unit from toxic smoke inhalation.
4
Obtain a fire extinguisher from the corridor and pull the safety pin from the handle.
The fire extinguisher is unlocked and ready to discharge.
Once the area is secure and alarms are active, the 'Extinguish' phase begins by applying the first step of the PASS technique.
5
Aim the extinguisher nozzle at the base of the flames and sweep from side to side.
The extinguishing agent targets the fuel source, suppressing the fire.
Proper extinguisher technique is essential to successfully put out a small fire without spreading the flames.

Key Concept

Internal Disaster Management: Fire Emergency Response (RACE and PASS protocols)
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Topics

Emergency Response Plan

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