Page 69 - 2020 ARE eGuide for Clinical at Nonhospital Sites

R.A.C.E. is an acronym to help you remember what to do in the event
of a fire.

Rescue or Remove All Persons
When a fire is discovered, your first priority is to remove yourself and others from
immediate danger. If you smell smoke from behind a closed door, be careful and feel
the door first with the back of your hand. If it's not too hot, open it slowly, crouch low to
the ground, and go to the person if it is safe to do so.
Alarm and Alert

Activate the alarm by pulling down the lever on the red pull-box. To initiate the alert,
dial your entity's emergency number. Let the operator know the type of emergency (fire,
Code Red) and where it is located.
Confine or Contain
Confine the fire by closing the door to the room of fire origin. Fire doors at hospitals are
designed to automatically close in the event of fire. Remove equipment in the path of
egress.
For the hospitals, the respiratory therapist, charge nurse, and/or a designee (inside the
OR, the anesthesiologist) are the only ones from the unit who may turn off the oxygen.

For patient care areas in the Medical Arts Surgery Centers, only an anesthesiologist or
designees are authorized to turn off the oxygen.
The designees in the Diagnostic and Urgent Care Centers are responsible for turning off
the oxygen.
Extinguish or Evacuate

Use the NEAREST fire extinguisher for small fires, if you can do so safely. Locate the
closest fire extinguisher (you need to know the locations of fire extinguishers in your
work area).