The R.A.C.E method for responding to a fire emergency - Fire Extinguisher Labels - P-A-S-S Technique

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Aria

Provide R.A.C.E guidance for responding to a fire emergency in a healthcare setting: Rescue people away from danger, Alert others and activate alarms, Confine by closing doors/windows and managing oxygen only through authorized staff, then Extinguish with the correct extinguisher using P-A-S-S. Evacuate occupants by lateral fire compartments across floors, follow Fire Marshal instructions, and use evacuation stairwells and crosswalks as directed. Include extinguisher label rules for A/B/C icons and newer pictorial symbol classifications, plus the meaning of red slashes and missing symbols, and a signature/date section.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

The R.A.C.E method for responding to a fire emergency

R-Rescue, A-Alert, C-Confine, E-Extinguish, E-Evacuate

P-A-S-S technique (Pull, Aim low, Squeeze, Sweep)

Fire Extinguisher Labels

Older A/B/C icon system

New pictorial symbol system and red-slash meaning

# The R.A.C.E.method for responding to a fire emergency: R-Rescue Move patients and assist visitors or impaired employees away from immediate danger of fireor smoke IF YOU CAN DO THIS WITHOUT PUTTING YOURSELF IN IMMEDIATEDANGER and IF THERE ARE OTHER STAFF AVAILABLE TO COMMUNICATE THEEMERGENCY AND TURN IN THE ALARM. A-Alert others Activate manual pull station alarm as soon as possible.Call\#6688 and state the location,type of fire and size.Notify co-workers-and make sure everybody in the area,and in otherdepartments in your area,know as well. C-Confine Close all doors and windows.Pack sheets and towels under doors to contain smoke.If there is oxygen in the area: ·Oxygen to a patient can be shut off by a nurse at the bedside after other staff have the patientand are ventilating them. ·Oxygen to a zone(a whole unit)can ONLY be shut off by Maintenance and Engineering afternursing staff authorize it(patients on oxygen are cared for). ·Oxygen to the building is only shut offafter the Fire Marshal orders it and after nursing staffauthorize it(patients on oxygen are cared for). E-Extinguish Select the appropriate fire extinguisher.Use the P-A-S-S technique to extinguisher the fire. (see below for P-A-S-S technique) E-Evacuate Move people (patients,parents,visitors,staff)to next lateral fire compartment on the 1st,and4th through 8th floors.On 2E and 3E and 2W and 3W,move 2 compartments laterally. Stay in the evacuation area until ordered to move by the Fire Marshal. Staff on floors above the fire use fire stairwells to evacuate. Staff on the 3rd floor use stairwells to evacuate patients to the 2nd floor if ordered to do so.Patients are evacuated from the building by the 2nd floor crosswalk. Close doors behind you. If you are not at the scene of the fire,make sure you can hear overhead instructions and the'all clear'.Have someone posted in the hallway to relay this information. LISTEN for the "Dr.Red,All Clear"announcement or further instructions. | Pull the pin.
Aim the hose
Squeeze
the handle
Sweep the extinguisher back and forth.
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To operate an extinguisher:
fiirstn
Pull
SQUEEZE
nozzle
the handle
queeze
at base
SWEEP nozzle
side to side | | --- | Pull the pin. Some models require you to remove a locking pin on the handleor lever.Some models may have other lever-releasingmechanisms.such as a button. ## Aim low Aim low and direct the hose nozzle or cone at the base of the fire.If you aim at the flames,which most inexperienced users aretempted to do,the extinguishing agent will flow right through theflames,and be ineffective.You want the extinguishing agent tohit the base of the fire.Follow the manufacturer's instructions onthe safe distance from which to fight the fire.Most portable fireextinguishers must be used from a distance of 1.8 to 3 meters(6to 10 feet)to be effective. ## Squeeze the lever Squeeze the lever above the handle to discharge the extinguishingagent.Releasing the lever will stop the discharge.Some modelsmay have a button instead of a lever. ## Sweep the nozzle Sweep the nozzle or hose from side to side at the base of the fire.Moving carefully toward the fire,keep the extinguisher aimed atthe base of the fire and sweep back and forth until the flamesappear to be out.Never turn your back on a fire;watch the firearea in case the fire re-ignites,and repeat use of the extinguisherif necessary. Always have the fire department inspect the fire site,even if you're sure you've extinguished thefire.The fire department will check to ensure there has not been any spread of fire beyond theoriginal ignition site. # Fire Extinguisher Labels The older labeling system uses simple iconswith an A,B or C designation to show whichclass or classes of fire it is safe to use a given extinguisher to fight.The class system and the types of fires associated with each class isdescribed in Fire Exti

FAQs

What are the key steps in the R.A.C.E method during a fire emergency?

Move people from immediate danger, alert others and activate the alarm, confine the area by closing doors/windows and containing smoke, extinguish using the appropriate extinguisher, then evacuate following Fire Marshal instructions and established routes.

How should staff use a fire extinguisher with the P-A-S-S technique?

Pull the pin, aim the nozzle low at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever to discharge, and sweep the nozzle side to side at the base until flames appear out.

How do extinguisher labels determine whether it is safe to use?

Older labels use A/B/C icons for fire classes; newer labels use pictorial symbols. A red slash through a symbol means the extinguisher is unsafe for that class, while missing symbols mean it was not tested for that class.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Aria