Certified Nurses Operating Room (CNOR) Practice Exam

To extinguish flames on a patient, pouring saline slowly on the affected area helps to smother the flames while also cooling the burn. Saline, being a sterile solution, can help minimize the risk of infection and is often used in clinical settings for this purpose. This action directly addresses the immediate danger posed by the flames and is swift in nature, maximizing the chance of keeping the patient safe. Using sterile gauze could potentially trap heat and flames against the skin, worsening the burn rather than extinguishing the fire. Employing a fire extinguisher is generally directed towards larger fires rather than directly on a person and might not effectively address flames on a patient's body. Shouting for help can alert others but does not provide immediate action to extinguish the flames. Thus, pouring saline directly onto the patient is the appropriate and effective measure for managing flames in this critical situation.