What is the recommended approach to mitigate the risk of fire related to oxygenation during a procedure?

• A. The surgical or procedure team communicates and collaborates to mitigate the risk of fire
• B. The anesthesia team acts alone
• C. The oxygen supply is disconnected
• D. Fire risk is not a concern

Answer: (A)

Mitigating fire risk in the oxygen-enriched environment of the OR requires intentional teamwork. When the entire team—anesthesia, surgery, and nursing—communicates and collaborates, everyone stays aligned on oxygen levels, ignition sources, and the plan if a fire starts. This shared approach ensures that actions like maintaining the minimum necessary FiO2, avoiding ignition sources near the surgical field, and confirming all equipment is secure are coordinated, checked, and acted upon quickly.

Relying on one group alone misses crucial checks and balances, and routinely disconnecting the oxygen supply is not appropriate or safe as a general practice. Fire risk is a real concern in procedures involving high oxygen concentration, so a collaborative safety plan is far more effective than any single-person approach.