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Response to a Fire Incident in the Operation Room: A Cautionary Tale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 July 2019

Raman Sharma ,
Ashok Kumar  and
Vipin Koushal
Raman Sharma
Affiliation:
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Hospital Administration, Chandigarh, India.
Ashok Kumar
Affiliation:
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Hospital Administration, Chandigarh, India.
Vipin Koushal
Affiliation:
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Hospital Administration, Chandigarh, India.
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Abstract

Health care facilities are always seen as places of haven and protection for managing external incidents, but situations become difficult and challenging when such facilities themselves are affected by internal hazards. Such incidents are arguably more disruptive than external incidents, because patients are dependent on supportive measures and are neither in position to respond to such crisis situation nor do they know how to respond. Operating room fires are rare but potentially catastrophic, involving loss of costly resources and possibly lives. This case report details a true operating room fire incident in an emergency operating room and details the real-life challenges encountered by operating room staff in preserving both life and property. As a result of this work, precautionary measures may be implemented to mitigate such incidents. Careful coordination, continuous training, and fire drill exercises can improve the overall outcomes and minimize the possibility of these potentially fatal problems, thereby making a safer health care environment for every worker and patient.

Keywords

health carefireoperation theateroperation room
Type
Report from the Field
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , April 2020 , pp. 284 - 288
Copyright
© 2019 Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.

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