It's not a drill, it's for real!

In this article, the authors describe an actual fire on a 40-bed surgical ward in a university-affiliated medical center. By the time staff members discovered the fire, one patient's bed and room were engulfed in flames and smoke was pouring into the hallway. Rapid and appropriate responses of members of the nursing and hospital staff prevented injuries to patients and staff members. Eighteen patients were evacuated within minutes, and the area of the fire was contained quickly. The importance of staff education and preparedness for an internal disaster with an emphasis on fire and safety standards is reviewed in this article.