Fire Safety And Evacuation (RACE/PASS) - NCLEX Pn
- Which action is correct if you encounter a closed door during a fire evacuation route?
- Feel the door for heat before opening. Checking for heat detects fire on the other side, preventing opening doors that could spread flames or smoke.
- If a door feels hot during a fire, what is the correct immediate action?
- Do not open it; use an alternate exit and report the hazard. A hot door indicates fire behind it, so avoiding opening prevents backdraft and ensures safer evacuation routes.
- Which RACE action is performed first when a fire is discovered on a nursing unit?
- Rescue anyone in immediate danger. Prioritizing rescue ensures immediate removal of individuals from harm before addressing other fire response steps.
- What does the acronym PASS stand for when using a fire extinguisher?
- Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. PASS provides a mnemonic for the safe and effective operation of a fire extinguisher to control small fires.
- Which action best supports containment immediately after rescuing patients in RACE?
- Close the room door to confine smoke and fire. Closing doors after rescue confines the fire and smoke, supporting the containment step of RACE.
- Which PASS step requires pointing the nozzle at the base of the flames?
- Aim. Targeting the base disrupts the fire's fuel source, increasing the effectiveness of the extinguishing agent.
- What is the priority nursing action if a patient's clothing catches fire?
- Stop, drop, and roll; smother flames with a blanket if available. Stop, drop, and roll extinguishes flames by depriving them of oxygen and preventing further burning.
- Which action best reduces smoke inhalation when moving through a smoky corridor?
- Stay low to the floor while exiting. Smoke rises, so staying low allows breathing clearer air closer to the ground during evacuation.
- Which PASS step involves moving the stream side-to-side across the base of the fire?
- Sweep. Side-to-side motion ensures comprehensive coverage at the fire's base, preventing re-ignition.
- Which RACE step focuses on closing doors and windows to limit smoke and fire spread?
- Contain (Confine). Closing doors and windows prevents oxygen from feeding the fire and limits the spread of smoke to other areas.
- Which PASS step involves removing the safety pin from the fire extinguisher?
- Pull. Removing the pin activates the extinguisher, preparing it for use in the subsequent steps of the PASS protocol.
- Which action is correct if a patient room is filling with smoke and the patient cannot ambulate?
- Rescue the patient first; then activate the alarm. RACE prioritizes rescuing those in danger before alarming to prevent immediate harm to vulnerable patients.
- Which condition must be met before attempting to extinguish a fire with PASS?
- Fire is small/contained, exit behind you, and you are trained. These conditions ensure personal safety and effectiveness, aligning with RACE's extinguish step only when feasible.
- What is the safest exit method for patients during a facility fire when elevators are present?
- Use stairs; do not use elevators. Elevators may fail or trap occupants during fires, making stairs the reliable method for vertical movement.
- Which PASS step requires pressing the handle to discharge the extinguishing agent?
- Squeeze. Pressing the handle releases the agent, allowing it to suppress the flames when properly aimed and swept.
- What is the correct positioning requirement before discharging a fire extinguisher?
- Keep a clear exit route behind you. Maintaining an escape path prevents being trapped, ensuring safety while attempting to control the fire.
- Which action is correct when the fire alarm sounds but you do not see smoke or flames?
- Follow facility fire plan; prepare to assist and await instructions. Following the plan ensures preparedness and coordinated action, even without visible signs of fire.
- Identify the best initial destination in horizontal evacuation during a unit fire.
- Beyond the fire doors into the next smoke compartment. Fire doors create barriers that contain smoke and fire, providing a safer temporary refuge during evacuation.
- Which RACE step requires activating the pull station and calling the facility emergency number?
- Alarm. Activating the alarm promptly notifies facility personnel and emergency services to initiate a coordinated response.
- Which evacuation method is used when horizontal routes are unsafe or ineffective?
- Vertical evacuation (stairs to a lower level). Vertical evacuation is a secondary option to descend to safety when fire blocks horizontal paths.
- What does the acronym RACE stand for in a healthcare fire emergency response?
- Rescue, Alarm, Contain (Confine), Extinguish/Evacuate. RACE outlines the sequential steps for responding to fires in healthcare settings to prioritize safety and containment.
- Which action is correct after a fire is controlled on the unit but smoke remains present?
- Continue to contain area and monitor patients for respiratory distress. Ongoing containment and monitoring address residual hazards like smoke, protecting patients from secondary effects.
- Which RACE step includes using an extinguisher only if the fire is small and you are trained?
- Extinguish (or Evacuate). Extinguishing is attempted only under safe conditions to avoid escalation, otherwise evacuation protects lives.
- Which evacuation method is preferred first in hospitals: horizontal or vertical evacuation?
- Horizontal evacuation. Horizontal evacuation minimizes risks by moving patients to adjacent safe areas without using stairs initially.