What is the proper response if a fire is discovered in a healthcare facility?

The RACE acronym is the standard fire response in healthcare facilities: R — Rescue any client in immediate danger; A — Activate the fire alarm (pull station) or call the emergency code; C — Contain the fire by closing doors and windows to limit oxygen and smoke spread; E — Extinguish the fire if small and contained, or Evacuate per facility policy if the fire is large or spreading. The PASS acronym applies to fire extinguisher use: Pull the pin; Aim at the base of the fire; Squeeze the handle; Sweep side to side. Healthcare evacuation is complex because many clients cannot ambulate independently — facilities have horizontal evacuation plans (move clients to a different fire zone through smoke doors) before vertical evacuation (down stairs) is attempted. Knowing the fire response is required of all healthcare staff and tested at hire and during periodic drills.