NCLEX Fire Safety: RACE and PASS Mnemonics Explained (2026 Guide)

Last updated: March 7, 2026.

Fast Answer: RACE and PASS in 30 Seconds

If you only have 30 seconds, here is what you need to know for the NCLEX:

RACE is the fire response sequence:

• R = Rescue anyone in immediate danger
• A = Activate the fire alarm (pull the nearest alarm and call the facility code)
• C = Contain the fire (close all doors and windows)
• E = Extinguish the fire (if small) or Evacuate (if large/uncontrollable)

PASS is the fire extinguisher technique:

• P = Pull the pin
• A = Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
• S = Squeeze the handle
• S = Sweep side to side at the base

Critical NCLEX rule: ALWAYS rescue first, then alarm. Patient safety is the #1 priority in every nursing scenario. If you see "call the fire department" as an answer choice, remember that activating the facility alarm automatically alerts the fire department --- choosing "call the fire department" as a separate first step is a classic NCLEX trap.

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The RACE Mnemonic: Hospital Fire Response Protocol

RACE is the universally taught fire response protocol in U.S. healthcare facilities. The Joint Commission (TJC) requires all accredited hospitals to train staff on this sequence, and it is tested directly on the NCLEX under the Safety and Infection Control content area.

R --- Rescue

Rescue anyone in immediate danger first. This means:

• Remove patients from the room where the fire originated
• Move patients closest to the fire before those farther away
• If a patient is on supplemental oxygen, turn off the O2 at the wall or tank before moving them (oxygen is an accelerant)
• Use a blanket to shield patients if necessary during rescue
• Close the door to the fire room behind you after removing patients

NCLEX application: The exam loves to test whether you prioritize rescue over alarm. If a question asks "What should the nurse do FIRST when discovering a fire in a patient's room?", the answer is always some form of removing the patient from danger --- not pulling the alarm, not grabbing an extinguisher, and definitely not calling the fire department.

A --- Activate the Alarm

After patients are safe, activate the fire alarm:

• Pull the nearest fire alarm pull station (the red boxes on walls)
• Call the facility's emergency code (most hospitals use Code Red for fire)
• Notify the charge nurse and unit staff
• The alarm system automatically alerts the fire department, security, and hospital administration

Key distinction for NCLEX: "Activate the alarm" and "call the fire department" are NOT the same action. Activating the alarm is a single pull of a lever that alerts everyone simultaneously. The NCLEX may offer "call 911" or "call the fire department" as a distractor --- the correct answer is "activate the fire alarm" or "pull the fire alarm."

C --- Contain the Fire

Contain the fire to prevent it from spreading:

• Close ALL doors on the unit (fire doors are rated to contain fire for 20-90 minutes)
• Close windows in and near the fire area
• Turn off oxygen supply valves in the zone (medical gas zone valves are typically in hallway panels)
• Do NOT open doors that feel hot to the touch
• Place wet towels under doors if smoke is seeping through

Why containment matters clinically: In a hospital, you cannot simply evacuate everyone quickly. Many patients are intubated, on IV drips, in traction, or post-surgical. Closing doors buys critical time to organize a safe evacuation if one becomes necessary.

E --- Extinguish or Evacuate

If the fire is small and contained, attempt to extinguish it. If it is large or spreading, evacuate.

• Use a fire extinguisher ONLY on small fires (wastebasket-sized or smaller)
• Never attempt to fight a fire that is above shoulder height or spreading
• If you cannot extinguish it within 30 seconds, evacuate
• Follow horizontal evacuation first (move to the next fire compartment on the same floor), then vertical evacuation (go DOWN, never up, unless the fire is below you)

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The PASS Mnemonic: Fire Extinguisher Operation

Once you reach the E in RACE and decide to extinguish, you need the PASS technique. Every hospital fire extinguisher follows the same four steps.

Step-by-Step PASS Breakdown

Critical Detail: Aim at the BASE

The most common mistake --- and a frequent NCLEX distractor --- is aiming at the flames. Aiming at visible flames does not eliminate the fuel source. Always aim at the base of the fire where combustible material is burning. The NCLEX will test this distinction.

Fire Extinguisher Types in Healthcare Settings

NCLEX tip: Most hospital units stock ABC multipurpose extinguishers. If a question asks which extinguisher to use on an electrical fire, Class C or ABC is correct. NEVER use water (Class A only) on an electrical or grease fire.

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Oxygen Safety: The Critical Nursing Consideration

Oxygen safety is where fire safety questions become uniquely nursing-focused. This is the area that separates generic fire safety knowledge from NCLEX-level clinical reasoning.

Why Oxygen and Fire Are Dangerous Together

• Oxygen is not flammable itself, but it is an accelerant --- it makes fires burn faster and hotter
• Room air is 21% oxygen; supplemental O2 creates an enriched atmosphere of 24-100% near the patient
• A spark near enriched oxygen can cause a flash fire in seconds
• Nasal cannulas, masks, and tubing can all ignite

Oxygen Safety Rules for Fire Scenarios

1. Turn off O2 BEFORE using a fire extinguisher near a patient receiving supplemental oxygen
2. Remove the patient from O2 during rescue (disconnect tubing, turn off flowmeter or tank)
3. Never use petroleum-based products (Vaseline, oil-based lotions) near O2 --- they are flammable
4. Post "Oxygen in Use" signs on patient doors (required by hospital policy and TJC)
5. Keep O2 tanks secured upright --- a falling tank can rupture and become a projectile

NCLEX Oxygen + Fire Scenario

A common NCLEX question setup: "A nurse discovers a fire in a room where a patient is receiving oxygen via nasal cannula. What should the nurse do FIRST?"

Correct answer: Remove/rescue the patient from the room (and disconnect or turn off the O2 as part of the rescue).

Why not "turn off the oxygen" first? Because RACE dictates rescue first. However, in practice, turning off the O2 is simultaneous with rescue --- you disconnect the tubing as you move the patient. The NCLEX wants to see that you prioritize getting the patient away from danger.

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Hospital Fire Codes and Communication

Standard Hospital Emergency Codes

For the NCLEX: You primarily need to know Code Red = Fire. The exam will not ask you to memorize all hospital codes, but it expects you to know the fire response protocol triggered by Code Red.

Fire Drill Requirements

The Joint Commission (TJC) requires:

• Quarterly fire drills on each shift in all accredited hospitals
• Staff must demonstrate knowledge of RACE and PASS
• Documentation of drill participation
• Annual competency validation for all clinical staff

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Evacuation Priority Order

When evacuation is necessary, patients are moved in this specific priority order:

Evacuation Route Rules

• Horizontal first: Move patients to the next fire compartment on the same floor (through fire doors)
• Vertical second: Move down stairwells (never up, unless the fire is below)
• NEVER use elevators during a fire (elevators can malfunction, open on the fire floor, or lose power)
• Close doors behind you as you evacuate each area
• Account for every patient using the unit census

Special Considerations for NCLEX

• Patients on ventilators need manual bag-valve-mask (Ambu bag) ventilation during evacuation
• IV pumps run on battery backup for approximately 30-60 minutes
• Traction patients may need emergency traction release protocols
• Newborns in the NICU are evacuated in rolling bassinets or carried (multiple per staff member)

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NCLEX Question Patterns for Fire Safety

Fire safety questions on the NCLEX fall under Safe and Effective Care Environment: Safety and Infection Control, which comprises 6-12% of the NCLEX-RN and 9-15% of the NCLEX-PN.

Common Question Formats

Prioritization/ordering: "Arrange the following actions in the correct order when a fire is discovered."

• Answer: RACE sequence (Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish/Evacuate)

Select All That Apply (SATA): "Which actions are appropriate when using a fire extinguisher? Select all that apply."

• Correct: Pull pin, aim at base, squeeze handle, sweep side to side
• Distractor: Aim at the top of the flames

Multiple choice: "A nurse discovers a small fire in a wastebasket in the patient's room. The patient is ambulatory. What should the nurse do FIRST?"

• Correct: Escort the patient out of the room (Rescue)
• Distractors: Pull the fire alarm (Alarm --- second step), Close the door (Contain --- third step), Use the extinguisher (Extinguish --- fourth step)

Top 3 NCLEX Fire Safety Traps

1. Trap: Choosing "call the fire department" instead of "activate the fire alarm" --- the alarm alerts the fire department automatically
2. Trap: Choosing "turn off oxygen" as the FIRST action instead of "rescue the patient" --- O2 shutoff is part of rescue, but rescue (removing the patient) is the priority
3. Trap: Choosing "aim at the flames" when using an extinguisher --- you aim at the base of the fire

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Quick-Reference Summary

RACE at a Glance

PASS at a Glance

Evacuation Order

1. Ambulatory (walk out)
2. Wheelchair (one staff each)
3. Bed-bound (multiple staff, drag sheets)

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