RCFE Emergency Procedures Test 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is the first step in the PASS technique used with portable fire extinguishers?

Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire
Pull the pin to unlock the operating lever (Correct answer)
Aim the nozzle at the top of the flames
Squeeze the handle before pulling the pin

Correct answer: Pull the pin to unlock the operating lever

PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. The first step is to Pull the pin to unlock the extinguisher.

The PASS technique is the standard method for operating a portable fire extinguisher: (P) Pull the safety pin from the handle to unlock the device; (A) Aim the nozzle or hose at the BASE of the fire — not the flames themselves; (S) Squeeze the handle to discharge the extinguishing agent; (S) Sweep the nozzle slowly side to side at the base of the fire until it is extinguished. RCFE staff must be trained on the correct use of fire extinguishers located throughout the facility. Extinguishers should be used only for small, contained fires — staff should always evacuate residents first and call 911 before attempting to use an extinguisher.

Question 2: During a facility emergency, which residents should be evacuated first from an RCFE?

The most recently admitted residents
Residents closest to the danger and those who cannot self-evacuate (Correct answer)
Residents whose family members are present
Residents in the largest rooms

Correct answer: Residents closest to the danger and those who cannot self-evacuate

Residents closest to the hazard and those physically unable to evacuate themselves must be prioritized in emergency evacuation.

Emergency evacuation planning in RCFEs must prioritize: (1) residents who are in the immediate zone of danger (e.g., adjacent to a fire or gas leak), (2) residents who cannot self-evacuate due to mobility, cognitive, or medical limitations. The facility's special needs evacuation list identifies which residents require extra staff assistance and any special equipment (wheelchairs, evacuation chairs, lift assists). Once immediate zone residents and non-ambulatory residents are addressed, ambulatory residents can often assist in their own evacuation with guidance from staff. Staff must know their assigned zones and the residents within them before any emergency occurs. This is practiced during quarterly fire drills.

Question 3: What does the RACE acronym stand for in RCFE fire emergency response?

Run, Alert, Call, Escape
Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Evacuate (Correct answer)
Report, Assess, Contain, Exit
React, Alert, Clear, Extinguish

Correct answer: Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Evacuate

RACE stands for Rescue (move residents from immediate danger), Alarm (activate the fire alarm), Confine (close doors to contain fire), and Evacuate (move residents to safety).

The RACE protocol is the standard fire response framework used in care facilities: (R) Rescue — move any residents in immediate danger to safety, (A) Alarm — activate the nearest fire pull station and call 911, (C) Confine — close all doors and windows to slow the spread of fire and smoke, (E) Evacuate — move all residents and staff to designated assembly areas. RCFE staff must be trained to execute RACE quickly and in the correct order. The RACE protocol, combined with PASS for extinguisher use, forms the core of fire emergency training that must be provided to all new staff and reinforced through quarterly drills.

Question 4: What should staff do after residents are evacuated during a fire drill in an RCFE?

Return inside immediately to assess damage
Account for all residents and staff at the designated assembly point before taking any other action (Correct answer)
Wait for instructions from the fire department before counting residents
Begin documenting the drill before confirming all residents are present

Correct answer: Account for all residents and staff at the designated assembly point before taking any other action

After evacuation, staff must immediately account for all residents and staff at the assembly point to confirm no one has been left inside.

The post-evacuation headcount is a critical safety step. After evacuating to the designated assembly area, the staff member responsible for each wing or zone must account for every resident assigned to them using the resident census or evacuation roster. The total count must be confirmed and communicated to the designated incident commander (typically the administrator or most senior staff on duty). If any resident is unaccounted for, emergency responders must be notified immediately so they can conduct a search of the facility. Re-entering a burning building to search for residents should only be done by trained firefighters, not RCFE staff. The completion of the headcount must be documented in the drill record.

Question 5: Under Title 22, what is the required action when a fire alarm sounds in an RCFE during the night shift?

Investigate the alarm source before waking residents to avoid unnecessary disturbance
Immediately initiate evacuation procedures for all residents according to the emergency plan (Correct answer)
Wait for the alarm to reset before deciding whether evacuation is necessary
Only evacuate residents in the wing closest to the alarm panel

Correct answer: Immediately initiate evacuation procedures for all residents according to the emergency plan

A sounding fire alarm requires immediate initiation of evacuation procedures for all residents — investigation delays endanger lives.

When a fire alarm activates, RCFE staff must treat it as a real emergency and immediately initiate evacuation procedures regardless of the time of day or night. Delaying evacuation to investigate whether the alarm is real ('alarm fatigue') is a leading factor in preventable fire fatalities in care settings. The night shift is particularly vulnerable because residents are sleeping and there are fewer staff. Title 22 requires facilities to practice nighttime evacuation scenarios during quarterly drills to prepare staff for this challenge. All staff on all shifts must know the emergency plan, their assigned zones, and the location of resident rosters so that a complete evacuation can begin within seconds of the alarm.

Question 6: What information must be recorded after every fire drill conducted in an RCFE?

Only the date of the drill is required
Date, time, number of participants, any problems encountered, and the time required to evacuate (Correct answer)
A general narrative description without specific timing
Fire drill records are not required by Title 22

Correct answer: Date, time, number of participants, any problems encountered, and the time required to evacuate

Fire drill records must include the date, time, participants, problems identified, and evacuation time — all of which are reviewed during CDSS inspections.

Title 22 requires RCFE facilities to document each fire drill with a formal record that includes: (1) the date and time the drill was conducted, (2) the number of staff and residents who participated, (3) the evacuation route used, (4) the total time to complete evacuation, (5) any problems encountered — such as a resident who had difficulty evacuating, a door that was difficult to open, or staff confusion about procedures, and (6) corrective actions planned to address identified problems. These records must be retained and made available to CDSS during inspections. Inspectors look for evidence that drills are conducted at varied times (including nighttime) and that identified problems result in improvements.

RCFE Emergency Procedures Test 2

What is the first step in the PASS technique used with portable fire extinguishers?