Surgical Fire Risk Assessment

Each year, there are about 550-650 surgical fires in the U.S., according to the ECRI Institute. About 20-30 surgical fires cause serious injury or disfiguration. One to two fires are fatal, most involving fires in the airway.

Christiana Care Health System has developed a Fire Risk Assessment score that is incorporated into the Universal Protocol process for all procedures. This is done to enhance communication among all team members to prevent operating room/procedural fires.

Please feel free to use these materials in your fire safety and risk assessment efforts.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Judith Townsley, MSN, RN, CPAN
Director of Clinical Operations
Perioperative Services
302-733-2639
Jtownsley@christianacare.org