Selecting Fire Extinguishers for the Operating Room

ECRI member hospitals sometimes ask us what type of fire extinguisher they should have in their operating rooms. Our answer is: We prefer carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguishers for use in the OR; our reasons are outlined below. We recommend that a 5 lb CO2 extinguisher be mounted just inside the entrance of each OR in the hospital.

CO2 extinguishers expel a fog of cold CO2 gas and snow that leaves no residue as it smothers and cools a fire. The cold fog is unlikely to injure the burning patient (or staff member) and in fact may help minimize thermal injury. The range of these extinguishers...