RACE and PASS mnemonic in nursing: fire safety guide for the NCLEX

Hospital fires are uncommon – but when they happen, they unfold fast, in an environment full of patients who cannot move themselves, pressurized oxygen lines, and staff who must act without hesitation. Three mnemonics exist to give healthcare workers a clear sequence in those moments: RACE, PASS, and FIRE.

RACE guides your overall response to a fire – what to do and in what order. PASS tells you how to operate a fire extinguisher if you reach the point of trying to suppress a small fire. FIRE is an alternative response acronym some facilities teach in place of RACE – Find, Inform, Restrict, Extinguish. All three are taught in nursing fundamentals, tested on the NCLEX, drilled in hospital orientation programs, and referenced in Joint Commission standards.

Quick reference

On the NCLEX: RACE and PASS are the two standard expected answers. The first step is always Rescue – never Alert or Extinguish. PASS is only used inside the final step of RACE.

Jump to: RACE mnemonic · PASS mnemonic · FIRE mnemonic · RACE vs PASS vs FIRE comparison · NCLEX tips · FAQ

The RACE mnemonic

RACE is the primary fire response protocol used in healthcare settings throughout the United States. It gives nurses and all healthcare staff a prioritized sequence of actions when fire is discovered.

Detailed RACE breakdown

R – Rescue

The first priority is getting patients out of immediate danger. “Immediate danger” means the fire is actively threatening a patient’s location – not that there is a fire somewhere in the building.

Rescue begins with the patients who are closest to the fire and who cannot self-evacuate. In a hospital, that means anyone who is bedridden, sedated, post-surgical, on mechanical ventilation, or otherwise unable to move independently. Ambulatory patients should be directed to move themselves to the safe side of a fire door. Non-ambulatory patients require direct physical assistance – horizontal transfer in the bed, or lift-and-move techniques appropriate to the setting.

The NFPA recommends a horizontal evacuation approach first: move patients away from the fire within the same floor, rather than attempting vertical evacuation down stairwells unless the floor itself is compromised. Stairwells are difficult with beds and wheelchairs, create bottlenecks, and can introduce smoke if doors are held open too long.

Rescue also means protecting yourself. Do not enter an area that places you in immediate danger without appropriate protection – a nurse who is incapacitated cannot help anyone. If the fire is beyond what you can safely approach, alert first and wait for support.

A – Alert

Activate the fire alarm immediately. In most healthcare facilities, this means pulling the nearest pull station – the red wall-mounted activation boxes found at stairwells and along corridors. Pulling a station triggers the building’s fire alarm system, alerts the fire department through automatic monitoring, and activates sprinklers in affected zones according to facility design.

At the same time, call 911 directly if there is any doubt that fire department has been alerted. Internal alarm systems can malfunction, and direct contact ensures emergency services are dispatched.

Notify the nursing supervisor or charge nurse, and activate any internal fire response protocols your facility uses. Most hospitals operate under an overhead announcement system – a specific code (commonly “Code Red”) that alerts all staff throughout the building to a fire emergency and triggers the facility’s incident command structure.

Do not assume someone else has called. In high-stress situations, bystander effect operates even among trained professionals. If you found the fire, you alert – and confirm that the alarm has been activated.

C – Confine

Closing doors is one of the highest-impact actions in fire response, and it is the one most often skipped in panic.

A closed door dramatically slows fire spread and – critically – controls smoke movement. Smoke inhalation is the leading cause of fire-related death; most people who die in structural fires die from smoke, not flames. A solid fire-rated door can maintain a barrier for 30-90 minutes, giving emergency responders time to reach the building and staff time to complete evacuation.

In healthcare settings, confinement is built into the physical environment. Fire doors throughout hospital corridors are held open with electromagnetic hold-open devices that release automatically when the fire alarm activates, converting open corridors into compartmentalized sections. Nursing staff should verify these doors have closed and manually close any that did not release.

Confinement steps to take:

• Close the door of the room where the fire originated
• Close all patient room doors on the affected unit
• Verify corridor fire doors have released and closed
• Close windows if accessible and safe to do so
• Turn off oxygen and other medical gases in the immediate area if controls are accessible
• Place wet towels along door gaps if available – this blocks smoke infiltration

Turning off oxygen is worth emphasizing. Oxygen does not burn, but it sharply accelerates combustion in everything else. An oxygen-enriched atmosphere – any environment where oxygen concentration exceeds approximately 23% – dramatically increases the rate at which materials ignite and burn. Oxygen lines should be shut off at the wall outlet or zone valve for the affected area when doing so does not endanger patients who depend on continuous oxygen therapy.

E – Extinguish or Evacuate

The final step in RACE requires a judgment call: can this fire be suppressed, or do you need to evacuate?

Attempt extinguishment only if all of the following are true:

• The fire is small and contained (approximately wastebasket-sized or smaller)
• You have a fire extinguisher immediately available
• You have an unobstructed exit behind you
• You have already activated the alarm and rescue is underway
• You have been trained in fire extinguisher use

If the fire is spreading, if the room is filling with smoke, if you are not sure of the fire’s extent, or if the above conditions are not met – evacuate. A growing fire doubles in size every minute. There is no recoverable position once a fire is beyond a small, contained stage.

When evacuation is the decision, guide ambulatory patients through the nearest fire exit to the designated assembly area. Remain calm – staff composure directly influences patient response. Do not use elevators. Close doors behind you as you move through the corridor.

The PASS mnemonic

PASS is the step-by-step technique for operating a portable fire extinguisher. If RACE’s final E leads you to attempt extinguishment, PASS is how you do it.

Detailed PASS breakdown

P – Pull the pin

Fire extinguishers have a plastic safety pin through the handle that prevents accidental discharge during storage. Pull it out completely before doing anything else. Most pins have a tamper seal – a thin plastic or metal strip – that will break when the pin is pulled. If the seal is already broken when you reach the extinguisher, the extinguisher may have been previously used and could be partially discharged; proceed, but be aware.

A – Aim at the base

Point the nozzle or hose at the base of the fire – the point where the fuel is burning – not at the flames themselves. This is the most commonly misunderstood step.

Flames are the visible product of combustion, but they are not the source. Directing the extinguishing agent at the flames achieves little because the fuel below continues to ignite. Aiming at the base suppresses the fuel source, which is where combustion is occurring.

Stand at a safe distance – typically 6 to 8 feet – before discharging. Move closer only if the fire responds and begins to shrink.

S – Squeeze the handle

With the pin removed and the nozzle aimed at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent. Use firm, steady pressure. Releasing the handle stops the discharge, which allows you to conserve agent if needed.

Most portable fire extinguishers used in hospitals contain 10-30 seconds of discharge time at full pressure. Use that time efficiently.

S – Sweep side to side

While squeezing, move the nozzle in a slow, sweeping motion from side to side along the base of the fire. This distributes the extinguishing agent across the burning fuel rather than concentrating it in one spot. Continue until the fire is out or the extinguisher is empty.

If the fire reignites after apparent suppression, back away and do not attempt to re-engage without a second extinguisher. Reignition indicates the fuel source has not been fully suppressed.

If the extinguisher empties without suppressing the fire, evacuate immediately. Close the door behind you.

The FIRE mnemonic

Some facilities teach FIRE as their fire-discovery response acronym instead of RACE. FIRE stands for Find, Inform, Restrict, Extinguish. It maps to the same four priorities as RACE but frames the first step around locating and confirming the fire rather than rescue. If your facility uses FIRE, follow your facility’s protocol – the underlying actions are the same.

F – Find

Locate the source of the fire and confirm what is burning. Knowing whether the fire involves electrical equipment, an oxygen-enriched area, or ordinary combustibles determines the correct extinguisher and whether suppression is safe to attempt. As with RACE’s Rescue step, your safety comes first – do not enter an area that puts you in immediate danger.

I – Inform

Inform others by activating the nearest pull station and triggering the facility’s fire alarm system. Call 911 directly if there is any doubt the fire department has been alerted, and notify the charge nurse or nursing supervisor. Most hospitals announce a code (commonly “Code Red”) that mobilizes the incident command structure. This step mirrors RACE’s Alert.

R – Restrict

Restrict the spread of fire and smoke by closing the door of the room where the fire originated, closing all patient room doors on the unit, and verifying that corridor fire doors have released and closed. Shut off oxygen and other medical gases in the affected area when controls are accessible and patients do not depend on continuous therapy. Smoke inhalation is the leading cause of fire-related death, so a closed door is one of the highest-impact actions you can take. This step is identical in intent to RACE’s Confine.

E – Extinguish

Attempt extinguishment only if the fire is small and contained, you have an extinguisher and a clear exit behind you, the alarm has been activated, and you are trained. Use PASS technique to operate the extinguisher. If the fire is spreading or the room is filling with smoke, evacuate instead. This is the same judgment call as RACE’s Extinguish or Evacuate.

RACE vs PASS vs FIRE: which mnemonic, when

These three mnemonics are sometimes confused because all relate to fire response. They answer different questions. RACE and FIRE describe your overall response to discovering a fire and are interchangeable depending on which one your facility teaches. PASS describes only how to physically operate a fire extinguisher, and it is used inside the final step of RACE or FIRE.

On the NCLEX, the exam will not require you to know FIRE unless the question specifies a facility that uses it – RACE and PASS are the standard expected answers. Understand FIRE so you recognize it in clinical orientation, but default to RACE for test scenarios that do not state otherwise.

Clinical context: fire safety in healthcare

Healthcare environments carry specific fire risks that differ from a typical office or residential setting.

Oxygen-enriched environments. Supplemental oxygen is in use throughout hospital floors, ICUs, operating rooms, and emergency departments. As noted above, elevated oxygen concentrations accelerate combustion significantly. NFPA 99 (Healthcare Facilities Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) govern fire safety design in healthcare buildings specifically because of these risks. Anesthetic gases used in operating rooms add another dimension – several are flammable, and OR fires involving drapes, prep solutions, and electrical equipment under oxygen-rich conditions are a documented and serious risk.

Electrical equipment. Electrical malfunction accounts for the majority of healthcare facility fires. The density of powered equipment – ventilators, infusion pumps, warming blankets, imaging equipment, surgical tools – creates multiple ignition opportunities. Class C fires (energized electrical equipment) require carbon dioxide (CO2) or other non-conductive extinguishing agents. Water-based agents must not be used on live electrical fires. Hospitals stock CO2 extinguishers and water-mist extinguishers for operating room use specifically because of this requirement.

NCLEX testing. RACE and PASS appear regularly in NCLEX fundamentals questions, often in scenario format. Common question types ask you to identify the correct first step in a fire response, the correct extinguisher operation technique, or which patients to prioritize for rescue. Understanding the clinical reasoning behind each step – not just the letters – is what makes these questions answerable even when the wording is unfamiliar.

Joint Commission fire safety requirements

The Joint Commission (TJC) establishes specific, audited requirements for fire safety in accredited healthcare facilities. Nurses should understand these requirements because they shape unit protocols and because surveyors regularly question staff on fire response expectations.

Fire drill frequency

TJC requires healthcare facilities to conduct fire drills at regular, measurable intervals. The specific requirement for hospitals is:

• Minimum frequency: at least one fire drill per shift per quarter – so each of the three shifts (day, evening, night) must have at least one drill every three months
• Unannounced timing: drills should not be announced to staff in advance; the goal is to assess actual response, not rehearsed behavior
• All areas included: drills should cover patient care areas, support areas, and administrative areas over the course of the year

Some states impose requirements stricter than TJC minimums. Facilities in states with additional regulatory oversight must follow whichever standard is more stringent.

Staff role expectations during drills

During a fire drill – and during an actual fire – TJC expects all staff to demonstrate specific competencies:

• Know the location of the nearest fire alarm pull station from their work area
• Know where fire extinguishers are located on the unit (surveyors frequently ask this directly)
• Demonstrate the correct sequence of response (R-A-C-E for most facilities)
• Know the designated patient assembly areas for horizontal and vertical evacuation from their floor
• Know how to operate the medical gas zone valve to shut off oxygen supply to an affected area

TJC surveyors may stop any staff member during an unannounced visit and ask: “What would you do if a fire broke out right now?” A clear, sequenced answer following RACE demonstrates the expected competency. Vague or hesitant answers are documented as findings.

Fire extinguisher requirements

Under TJC Environment of Care standards and NFPA 10 (Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers):

• Extinguishers must be inspected monthly (a brief visual check that the extinguisher is present, undamaged, and the gauge reads in the operating range)
• Annual maintenance inspection must be performed by a qualified service provider
• Extinguishers must be replaced or recharged immediately after any use, even partial discharge
• Placement: no staff member should travel more than 75 feet to reach a fire extinguisher in a healthcare setting (a stricter standard than the 75 feet for ordinary hazard occupancies under NFPA 10)
• Type: CO2 extinguishers are required in areas with energized electrical equipment; water-mist extinguishers are preferred in patient care areas where water spray is acceptable; dry-chemical extinguishers leave residue that contaminates sterile fields and are generally avoided in clinical areas

Documentation

Fire drill documentation is required and reviewed during TJC surveys. Typical documentation includes: date and time of drill, areas covered, staff participation by role, any deficiencies observed, corrective actions taken, and the name of the individual who ran the drill. Nurses are not usually responsible for generating drill documentation, but knowing it exists – and what it tracks – is part of fire safety competency in accredited facilities.

RACE protocol by setting

The RACE sequence is consistent across all healthcare environments, but application varies significantly depending on where the fire occurs. The NCLEX may present fire scenarios in specific settings; understanding how patient population and equipment density change the practical steps prepares you for both the exam and clinical practice.

ICU and critical care units

ICU fires present the highest rescue complexity. Nurses who work in these environments – including those pursuing an ICU nursing career or a flight nurse role – need fire response competency that goes beyond what general orientation covers. Patients are typically:

• Mechanically ventilated (cannot self-evacuate and require ventilator continuity)
• Connected to multiple invasive lines (arterial, central venous, PA catheters)
• On continuous infusions via multi-channel IV pumps
• Sedated or neurologically impaired

Rescue considerations: Horizontal evacuation is the default – moving the bed to the other side of the fire door on the same floor. Vertical evacuation of a vented patient down a stairwell requires manual bag-valve-mask ventilation by a second provider while the bed or stretcher is moved. ICUs are required to have stair chairs and evacuation sleds for patients who cannot be moved in a hospital bed. Removing a patient from mechanical ventilation for even brief transport requires an ambu bag and a respiratory therapist or nurse trained in manual ventilation.

Confine: In ICUs, shutting the zone valve for piped oxygen is a critical step during a fire in an oxygen-enriched area. Zone valve panels are typically located in the corridor outside patient rooms. Knowing the location of the zone valve for your area is a TJC expectation for ICU nurses.

Pediatric units

Pediatric settings differ from adult floors in patient mobility, equipment type, and communication capacity:

• Infants and toddlers require physical carry; they cannot respond to evacuation instructions
• Children in cribs require the nurse to retrieve and carry the patient, then return for the next – a slower process than directing an ambulatory adult
• Adolescents who are ambulatory may follow instructions but may be frightened and require guidance

Rescue sequence in pediatrics: Highest priority is given to patients closest to the fire. Infants who cannot be transported in their cribs should be carried using the infant evacuation procedure (tucking an infant under each arm is a recognized technique for carrying two non-ambulatory infants simultaneously in a true emergency). Multi-patient evacuation requires calling for help immediately – a single nurse cannot carry multiple infants alone. The charge nurse activates additional staff immediately under RACE’s Alert step.

Equipment: Pediatric patients may be on continuous oxygen via nasal cannula or high-flow devices. Closing zone valves applies the same way as in adult units; however, staff should assess whether any patient is on life-sustaining oxygen before shutting zone valves.

Operating room and surgical suite

OR fires are a distinct risk category. Nurses working in perioperative roles – including those in OR nursing and perianesthesia nursing – receive specialized fire safety training as part of surgical team orientation. The surgical environment contains three components that, in combination, create high fire risk: an oxidizer (oxygen or nitrous oxide), an ignition source (electrosurgical units, lasers, drills), and fuel (surgical drapes, alcohol-based prep solutions, sponges, and patient hair and tissue). The ECRI Institute and the American Society of Anesthesiologists publish specific OR fire prevention and response protocols.

RACE in the OR:

• Rescue: The patient is anesthetized and cannot self-evacuate. The surgeon and anesthesia provider must coordinate immediate response. The scrub tech and circulator assist with patient transport if the fire cannot be quickly contained.
• Alert: Most ORs have a dedicated fire response code. The circulator activates the alarm and announces the code while the team responds to the fire.
• Confine: In the OR, “confine” often means extinguishing or containing the fire on or near the patient before evacuation is possible. Airway fires – ignition of the endotracheal tube inside the airway – require immediate disconnection from the breathing circuit and removal of the burning tube, followed by flood irrigation with saline. For drape fires, remove burning material from the patient and smother with a wet sponge or CO2 extinguisher.
• Extinguish: CO2 extinguishers are standard in the OR because they leave no residue and are safe near the sterile field. If the fire cannot be extinguished rapidly, the patient must be extracted from the OR.

Oxygen management in the OR: When a fire is detected on or near the patient, the anesthesia provider should immediately stop the flow of medical gases (disconnect the circuit, turn off the gas supply). A fire on a drape in a 100% oxygen environment is far more dangerous than the same fire in room air. Reducing the oxidizer supply is the single most effective immediate action in an OR fire.

NCLEX practice scenarios

The following scenarios cover the most commonly tested RACE and PASS applications. For each, read the question carefully before selecting an answer.

Scenario 1

A nurse on a medical-surgical unit smells smoke and sees flames coming from a linen cart in the hallway outside room 412. The patient in room 412 is a 74-year-old with bilateral below-knee amputations who cannot ambulate independently. Which action should the nurse take first?

A) Pull the nearest fire alarm pull station
B) Close all patient room doors on the unit
C) Move the patient in room 412 away from the fire
D) Locate a fire extinguisher and attempt to suppress the fire

Answer: C

Rationale: The patient in room 412 is in immediate danger from a fire that is directly outside their room. RACE begins with Rescue – removing patients in immediate danger is the first priority. Because the patient cannot self-evacuate due to amputation, the nurse must physically move them first. Pulling the alarm (A) and closing doors (B) are both correct RACE steps, but they come after the immediate rescue of a patient in direct danger. Extinguishment (D) is never the first action.

Scenario 2

A nursing student is reviewing fire safety for the NCLEX. Which statement about the PASS technique is correct?

A) The nozzle should be aimed at the visible flames to extinguish them
B) The safety pin should remain in place to prevent accidental discharge
C) The nurse should sweep the nozzle at the base of the fire from side to side
D) PASS should be used before the fire alarm is activated

Answer: C

Rationale: PASS – Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep – requires aiming at the base of the fire (where combustion is occurring), not at the flames. Option A is incorrect; directing agent at visible flames misses the fuel source. Option B is incorrect; the pin must be pulled (the P in PASS) before discharge is possible. Option D is incorrect; the fire alarm (RACE’s Alert step) must be activated before extinguishment is attempted – personnel must be alerted regardless of whether suppression is tried.

Scenario 3

A nurse discovers a small fire in a patient’s room. The patient is ambulatory and the nurse has directed them into the hallway. The nurse has pulled the fire alarm. The fire is contained to a small wastebasket and the nurse has a CO2 extinguisher and a clear exit behind them. In what order should the nurse proceed?

A) Pull the pin → aim at the flames → squeeze → sweep side to side
B) Pull the pin → aim at the base → squeeze → sweep side to side
C) Sweep → squeeze → aim at the base → pull the pin
D) Squeeze → aim at the base → sweep → pull the pin

Answer: B

Rationale: PASS in correct sequence: Pull the pin (P), Aim at the base of the fire – not the flames (A), Squeeze the handle to discharge (S), Sweep from side to side along the base (S). Option A is the most common error – aiming at the flames rather than the base. Options C and D reverse the sequence and would result in discharge without a directed target.

Scenario 4

It is 2:15 AM on a night shift. A nurse smells smoke on the unit and is uncertain whether there is an actual fire. There are 12 patients on the floor, 4 of whom are non-ambulatory. What is the nurse’s first action?

A) Wait to determine whether the smell is smoke or a clinical odor before activating the alarm
B) Activate the fire alarm immediately and initiate RACE protocol
C) Notify the charge nurse and wait for guidance before taking action
D) Begin moving non-ambulatory patients to the stairwell

Answer: B

Rationale: When there is any suspicion of fire, activate the alarm immediately – do not investigate, wait, or defer. A delayed alarm is the most common preventable error in healthcare fire deaths. RACE begins with Rescue (move patients in immediate danger) and Alert (activate alarm and call for help). In this scenario, the nurse’s first action is to activate the alarm while initiating rescue of at-risk patients. Option A delays response. Option C adds a handoff step that wastes critical time. Option D moves patients to a stairwell without confirming the fire’s location or extent – horizontal evacuation on the same floor is the recommended first approach.

These scenarios represent the core NCLEX testing pattern: correct sequencing under RACE, correct application of PASS, and clinical prioritization when multiple actions are needed simultaneously.

Common mistakes to avoid

Not closing doors. This is the most consequential error in fire response. Closing the door of the room where a fire started can be the single action that prevents a fatal outcome. Staff who leave doors open while evacuating remove one of the most effective barriers between fire, smoke, and patients.

Trying to extinguish a fire that’s too large. If the fire is not small and contained, attempting extinguishment wastes critical time and puts the nurse in danger. When in doubt, evacuate. The decision to use an extinguisher should take seconds, not minutes of deliberation.

Aiming at the flames, not the base. Aiming high at visible flames instead of the base of the fire is the most common PASS error. It wastes extinguishing agent and fails to suppress combustion at its source.

Not knowing where fire extinguishers are located. During an actual fire, there is no time to search. Know the location of fire extinguishers on your unit during orientation and at the start of each shift.

Reversing the RACE sequence. Some students attempt to Alert before Rescue when a patient is in immediate, life-threatening danger. While alerting is critical, a patient trapped near a fire cannot wait while the alarm is pulled first. Rescue imminent danger, then alert – this is the intended sequence when both needs are simultaneous.

Related mnemonics

Fire safety is one piece of a broader framework of environmental safety competencies nursing students develop during fundamentals. Related areas of study include:

• SBAR communication – the structured communication framework used when reporting a fire or any clinical emergency to the charge nurse, rapid response team, or physician. RACE tells you what to do; SBAR tells you how to communicate it.
• MONA mnemonic – for acute coronary syndrome management. ACS is a high-acuity event where the same calm, systematic response you practice in fire drills is required. Mnemonics work in emergencies because they are practiced until automatic.
• ADPIE nursing process – the foundational nursing process framework. Fire response is an application of the assess-plan-implement-evaluate cycle compressed into seconds.
• Nursing mnemonics hub – the full index of clinical, safety, and pharmacology mnemonics tested on the NCLEX, with links to a detailed guide for each.

Building a working library of mnemonics across safety, clinical, and communication domains makes you faster and more reliable in the settings where patients need competent nurses most.

Sources and references

1. The Joint Commission – National Patient Safety Goals: fire safety requirements in healthcare settings. jointcommission.org
2. NFPA 101 Life Safety Code – National Fire Protection Association: fire evacuation and response procedures in healthcare occupancies.
3. NCSBN – NCLEX-RN test plan: safe and effective care environment, safety and infection control. ncsbn.org
4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – Conditions of Participation: physical environment and fire safety. cms.gov

Content reviewed by Lindsay Smith, AGPCNP-BC. Last reviewed: June 2026.

For details on how we review clinical content, see our editorial methodology.

Frequently asked questions

What does RACE stand for in nursing?

RACE stands for Rescue, Alert, Confine, and Extinguish or Evacuate. It is the fire response sequence used in healthcare settings: rescue patients in immediate danger, alert others by activating the alarm and calling 911, confine the fire by closing doors, then extinguish a small contained fire or evacuate if it cannot be controlled.

What does the A in RACE stand for?

The A in RACE stands for Alert. The Alert step means pulling the nearest fire alarm pull station, calling 911 if there is any doubt the fire department has been notified, and informing the charge nurse or supervisor. Most hospitals announce a code – commonly “Code Red” – that activates the incident command structure. Alert is the second step, after Rescue of patients in immediate danger.

What does PASS stand for in nursing?

PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep. It is the technique for operating a portable fire extinguisher: pull the safety pin, aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle to discharge the agent, and sweep from side to side until the fire is out.

What is the FIRE mnemonic in nursing?

FIRE stands for Find, Inform, Restrict, Extinguish. It is an alternative fire-discovery response acronym some facilities teach in place of RACE. The four steps map to the same priorities as RACE: locate the fire, activate the alarm and notify staff, close doors to restrict spread, then suppress a small fire or evacuate.

What is the difference between RACE and PASS?

RACE is the overall fire response sequence – what to do when you discover a fire and in what order. PASS is only the technique for operating a fire extinguisher, used inside RACE’s final “Extinguish” step. RACE answers “what do I do?” and PASS answers “how do I use the extinguisher?”

Which comes first, RACE or PASS?

RACE comes first. PASS is used only if RACE’s final step leads you to attempt extinguishment of a small, contained fire. You rescue patients, alert others, and confine the fire before any extinguisher is operated.

Is RACE or FIRE the correct answer on the NCLEX?

RACE and PASS are the standard expected answers on the NCLEX. FIRE is an alternative acronym some facilities use, but the exam will not require it unless a question specifically states a facility that uses FIRE. Default to RACE for fire response scenarios and PASS for extinguisher operation.

Summary

RACE stands for Rescue, Alert, Confine, Extinguish or Evacuate – the four-step fire response protocol used in healthcare settings across the United States. Rescue patients in immediate danger first. Activate the alarm and call 911. Close all doors to confine fire and smoke. Extinguish only if the fire is small, contained, and you have a clear exit behind you – otherwise evacuate.

PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep – the technique for operating a portable fire extinguisher. Pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire (not the flames), squeeze the handle to discharge the agent, and sweep side to side until the fire is out.

Both mnemonics appear on the NCLEX, are required knowledge in nursing fundamentals, and reflect Joint Commission-endorsed fire response procedures. Knowing the sequence is necessary – understanding the clinical reasoning behind each step is what makes that knowledge useful when it matters.

This article is for educational purposes. Clinical practice should always follow current evidence-based guidelines, your facility’s fire response protocols, and the most current Joint Commission and NFPA standards.