Fire and Electrical Safety in the OR

Question 1

3 components of the fire triangle

Answer 1

-Fuel Source
-Ignition Source
-Oxidizers

Question 2

Surgical prep solutions, alcohol, petroleum-based ointments, facial hair, surgical drapes, gloves, breathing circuits, dressings, ETT

Answer 2

Fuel sources

Question 3

Oxygen, air, nitrous oxide

Answer 3

Oxidizers

Question 4

Electrosurgeries (ESU’s), fiberoptics, high-speed drills, lasers, monitors, defibrillators, desiccated anesthesia soda lime

Answer 4

Ignition sources

Question 5

Where do 85% of surgical fires occur

Answer 5

High risk cases involving the
-Head
-Neck
-Upper chest

Question 6

3 modern safety devices

Answer 6

-Polarized plugs
-Three pronged (grounding) plug
-Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)

Question 7

Red light wavelength

Answer 7

620-750 nm

Question 8

Factors affecting how much light is absorbed by the sample (Beer’s Law)

Answer 8

A= abc

a= Absorptivity
b=Increasing the distance the light beam travels through the sample
c= Concentration of analyte

Question 9

Current flows in one direction

Answer 9

Direct Current Circuit (DC); commonly battery powered

Question 10

Current periodically changes direction

Answer 10

Alternating Current Circuit (AC); Derive energy from wall outlets or AC generators

Question 11

What kind of current does OR equipment operate one

Answer 11

Alternating Current Circuit (AC)

Question 12

Type of circuit that allows one pathway for current flow

Answer 12

Series circuit; ex: a multibattery flashlight- voltages of battery simply add together

Question 13

Type of circuit that has more than one path it can take; resistors are connected in parallel to create a unique current

Answer 13

Parallel circuit

Question 14

Household circuits are usually:

Answer 14

Parallel circuits

Question 15

The energy required to push electrons through a material

Answer 15

Resistance

Question 16

Ohm’s Law measures

Answer 16

Resistance and conductance

Question 17

Any substance that does not allow the flow of electrons

Answer 17

Insulator

Question 18

Any substance that permits the flow of electrons

Answer 18

Conductor

Question 19

Example of a conductor

Answer 19

Metals

Question 20

What do all stationary electric charges possess

Answer 20

Electric potential energy

Question 21

Electric potential energy is measured in what?

Answer 21

joules

Question 22

What is an example of something that has electric potential energy

Answer 22

Defibrillator (joules)

Question 23

What kind of wavelength does deoxygenated hemoglobin absorb?

Answer 23

visible red wavelength= 660 nm

Question 24

What kind of wavelength does oxygenated hemoglobin absorb?

Answer 24

infrared= 940 nm

Question 25

Every energized device or electrical circuit has the potential for producing an electric shock T or F

Answer 25

True

Question 26

A relatively large amount of current flows through the body potentially resulting in injury or death

Answer 26

Macroshock

Question 27

A relatively small current is delivered externally and finds its way to the heart via a low resistance pathway As little as 100 microA can cause v.fib

Answer 27

Microshock

Question 28

The longer the individual is in contact with a current, the greater the damage. T or F

Answer 28

True

Question 29

If there is a surgical fire, what would you immediately pull?

Answer 29

ETT

Question 30

What is the oxidizer in 95% of surgical fires?

Answer 30

Oxygen. Heavier than air, it can accumulate around and under drapes

Question 31

Ways to prevent surgical fires

Answer 31

-Fire drills, education, trainings -Avoid open air oxygen delivery (especially in head, neck, upper chest; turn O2 off when possible, ex: when surgeon closing) -Administer supplemental O2 via ETT or LMA (closed systems=less fire risk than open- NC, mask) -Limit supplemental O2 < 30% -Turn O2 off 1 min before ESU -Avoid pooling of prep solutions and allow to dry -Continuous suction-scavenger systems -Coat facial hair with water-soluble lubricant -Use moistened sponges -Laser resistant ETT's for high risk cases -Water and extinguishers immediately available

Question 32

Mnemonic for fire safety

Answer 32

R escue A alarm C ontain E xtinguish

Question 33

Mnemonic for fire extinguisher

Answer 33

P ull pin A im at base of fire S queeze handle S weep side to side

Question 34

3 components of the fire triangle

Answer 34

Fuel source Ignition source Oxidizers