Surgical Fire Safety Training Program

Although rare, surgical fires can occur whenever and wherever surgery is performed. ECRI estimates as many as 550 to 650 surgical fires occur in healthcare facilities annually. Approximately 20 to 30 of the fires occurring annually cause disfiguring or disabling injuries, and one or two—typically surgical fires occurring in the airway—are fatal. ECRI and others have recommended surgical fire prevention strategies, which include providing education to surgical team members to raise and maintain awareness about surgical fires and offering methods to prevent them.

ECRI has developed this training program to help educate staff (e.g., surgeons, anesthesia providers, nurses) on risk factors...