Preventing Surgical Fires

Preventing
Surgical Fires

The Solution

Preventing surgical fires involves implementing strict safety protocols and adhering to established guidelines. These measures include proper handling and use of flammable materials, minimising the concentration of oxygen in the surgical field, and taking precautions to prevent ignition sources, such as utilising safer methods of skin preparation.

Surgical fires are entirely preventable, but the absence of national guidelines or sufficient risk training in the UK has resulted in an inconsistent approach to prevention and reporting in care settings.

Elsewhere in the world, surgical fires have been highlighted as a patient safety priority. The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued new national guidance on surgical fire prevention in 2018 for all healthcare professionals involved in surgical procedures. In the UK, however, no such guidance has been made.

There is currently no legal obligation for healthcare professionals and other staff members to report instances of surgical fires or burns. The lack of reporting of fires has resulted in an unfamiliarity of the risk at a policy level, and the subsequent lack of prevention.

By requiring mandatory reporting, the NHS aims to promote transparency, accountability, and improved patient safety. It helps to identify areas for improvement, investigate incidents, and take appropriate actions to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Many surgical burn incidents can be prevented by:

Using robust risk management processes;
Adopting safer practices in relation to the observation and monitoring of patients;
Greater maintenance and correct use of equipment; and
Safe storage and vigilance when using flammable chemicals, such as skin cleansing agents