2 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8
W
hen we determined that a
large percentage of the
staff couldn't operate a fire
extinguisher, we reached out to our
facility's fire marshal for a solution.
Over the course of 4 weeks, we
devoted time to learning the
PASS — Pull, Aim, Squeeze and
Sweep — method of operating 5-
lb. and 10-lb. extinguishers. Our
fire marshal, who is also a local
firefighter, got us a simulation device that we used for training. It
was kind of like playing a video game. Competition always drives
education, so we made the training fun, while being serious, to
see who among the staff could put out the fire the fastest.
If you've never held a fire extinguisher and don't have the upper
body strength, the pressure could cause the extinguisher to get
away from you if you're not prepared.
All 273 surgical staff members completed the training on the
use of the fire extinguishers. Once they passed, they each got
cards reminding them of the PASS acronym and the RACE
acronym — Rescue, Alarm, Contain and Extinguish. We've added
this hands-on experience to staff's annual fire training.
Stephanie Landmesser, RN, MSN, CNOR, CCNS
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Philadelphia, Pa.
stephanie.landmesser@jefferson.edu
Can Your Staff Use A Fire Extinguisher?
• POINT AND SHOOT The staff at Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital in Philadelphia all learned how to
use a fire extinguisher with a simulation device.
PULL, AIM, SQUEEZE AND SWEEP
Thomas
Jefferson
University
Hospital
