No More Patient Burns
TOP CONCERN The combination of energies and
oxygen make head and neck surgery a major fire
risk. (Left to right) Karon Kennamer, CST; Stacy
Taylor, ST; Cristy Vanzant, LPN, ST; and Kelly Garner,
RN, conduct a laser safety drill at Tullahoma
Surgery Center.
Protect those in your care
from injuries that are
100% preventable.
Marilyn Burns, RN, BS, CNOR
Tullahoma, Tenn.
P
advice on how to prevent them.
OR fires
Perhaps the worst-case scenario for
patient burns, surgical fires are relatively
rotecting patients from flash fires,
rare but very hazardous. According to the
thermal contact hazards, electrical
ECRI Institute, the Plymouth Meeting, Pa.,
current, scalding fluids and danger- non-profit healthcare research organiza-
ous chemical or radiation exposures is an
tion, they occur approximately 550 to 650
absolute must. But it only takes a moment
times a year in the United States, resulting
for a seemingly minor misstep to escalate
in about 20 to 30 patient injuries.
into avoidable and potentially devastating
The risk of OR fires is particularly acute
errors. Here are some common causes of
due to the fact that the necessary elements
unintentional patient burns and practical
of the "fire triangle" — a heat or ignition
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E
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