Fire Prevention and Safety Home ::

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Prevention and Safety During Surgical Procedures ::

Program Content ::

JCAHO Sentinel Event Alert ::

JCAHO Recommends ::

AORN Fire Position
Statement ::

NFPA 99 – Standard for Health Care Facilities ::

Fires Reported to ECRI ::

Root Causes of Fires ::

The Fire Triangle ::

Fuel Combustion ::

Ignition Sources ::

Fuel Sources ::

Oxidizers ::

Preparing for Fires ::

Preventing Fires ::

Control of Ignition Sources ::

Manage Fuels ::

Minimize Oxidizers ::

Endotracheal Tubes ::

Managing Fires ::

Conclusions ::

Program Summary ::


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Glossary ::

Bibliography ::

Suggested Readings ::


Covidien Energy-Based Professional Education ::

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Program Summary ::

Recommendations of agencies/organizations

Types and locations of fires

Components of the fire triangle

  • Ignition sources
  • Fuel sources
  • Oxidizers and how they feed the fire triangle

Strategies for preventing and managing fires

Prior to use, clinicians should review the Instructions for Use
product inserts and/or User's Guide provided by the manufacturer,
to ensure safe and appropriate utilization of electrosurgical devices.

The potential for a surgical fire makes it imperative that prevention be a prime concern in all operative and invasive procedure practice areas. Surgical team members can minimize the potential for a fire by knowing the components of the fire triangle. Key prevention strategies include controlling the ignition source, managing the fuel source and minimizing the oxidizer. Should a fire occur, a quick response is essential because a small fire can become a large, life threatening fire within 30 seconds.

Education in the form of lectures, video presentations and learning modules can educate staff on the skills needed to prevent and manage fires. Fire drills will reinforce skills and knowledge.

An educated surgical team is the patient's best advocate.

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