Arizona Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Practice Test

What is the first action a nurse aide should take upon discovering a fire?

1. Notify the fire department

2. Remove any residents near the fire (R: in RACE)

3. Extinguish the fire if possible

4. Activate the fire alarm system

The correct answer is: Remove any residents near the fire (R: in RACE)

The first action a nurse aide should take upon discovering a fire is to remove any residents near the fire. This aligns with the RACE protocol, which stands for Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and Extinguish. The foremost priority in any emergency situation, especially one involving a fire, is the safety and well-being of the residents. By removing individuals from immediate danger, the aide ensures that they are protected from smoke inhalation, burns, or other fire-related dangers. Following the rescue of individuals, the next steps would typically involve activating the fire alarm system to alert others and give the fire department a chance to respond to the situation. While extinguishing the fire might be an important action to consider if the fire is small and manageable, the immediate priority must always be ensuring that all residents are safe from harm before addressing the fire itself. Thus, the focus of taking action must be on preventing harm to the residents and ensuring their safety above all else.