What is the first step when a person's clothing catches fire?

UPUMS Nsg officer-2023

Medical Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: UPUMS Nsg officer-2023

Explanation

The immediate priority is to extinguish the flames by cutting off the oxygen supply.
Rolling on the ground is the most effective and immediate way to smother a clothing fire, as part of the 'Stop, Drop, and Roll' protocol.
This action prevents the fire from spreading upwards towards the face and airway, reducing the risk of more severe injury and inhalation damage.
It is an action that can be performed instantly by the individual without needing any external resources like water or a fire extinguisher.

Option B: While pouring water can extinguish a fire, it is not the correct first step because it requires finding a water source, which causes a critical delay. The most immediate action is required.
Option C: Running is the most dangerous action to take. The movement fans the flames with oxygen, causing the fire to burn more intensely and spread faster across the body.
Option D: Switching off the light is completely irrelevant to the emergency of a clothing fire and wastes precious, life-saving seconds.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain First Aid for Burns as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in public health education, including teaching fire safety principles like 'Stop, Drop, and Roll' to patients and communities, especially vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.
In an emergency department setting, a nurse's rapid assessment must include determining the cause of the burn to guide immediate treatment. Knowing the patient's clothing was on fire immediately raises suspicion for inhalation injury.
What if? If the person was on fire due to a flammable liquid (like gasoline), they should still be smothered with a blanket or rolled on the ground, but dousing with water becomes more urgent after the initial smothering to cool the large surface area.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It asks for the first and most immediate action in a specific emergency (clothing fire).
Analyze the options based on the principles of fire safety. Fire requires oxygen to burn.
Evaluate Option A (Roll): Rolling on the ground cuts off oxygen, smothering the fire. This is a recognized safety protocol ('Stop, Drop, and Roll').
Evaluate Option B (Pour water): This is a valid action but requires an external resource (water) that may not be immediately available, making it a secondary step.
Evaluate Option C (Run): Running provides more oxygen to the fire, making it worse. This is a dangerous and incorrect action.
Evaluate Option D (Switch off light): This is irrelevant to the immediate danger.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QAobeRdpCDwZOrSK1RJsZa

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 691-693