The nurse is educating a group of student nurses about fire safety. Which statement by a student nurse indicates a need for further teaching by the facility nurse?
“Oxygen near the vicinity of the fire should be turned off if it is safe to do so.”
“Bedridden clients may be moved in their beds or in a wheelchair if they are able to sit in it safely.”
“Clients who are ambulatory may walk to a safe area but cannot assist in evacuating other clients due to HIPAA laws.”
“Clients on a ventilator should be manually bagged with an Ambu bag until the fire threat is over and they can be placed back on the ventilator.”
Number 3 is correct.
Ambulatory clients may assist in moving clients in wheelchairs during a fire emergency without fear of HIPAA violations. Clients should not overexert themselves, however. Doing so may render them needing aid as well. Oxygen sources near a fire should be shut off if safe to do so. Bedridden clients who can sit safely in a wheelchair may be evacuated in wheelchairs, and the weakest or most needy clients can be moved in their beds. Less staff is required to move a wheelchair compared to a bed. Clients on ventilators must be manually bagged with an Ambu bag until they can be placed back on the ventilator.
