A newly hired nurse is attending an in-service about fire safety. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first in the event of a fire?

A. Report the location of the fire: Notifying appropriate personnel or the fire alarm system is important for mobilizing help and initiating emergency response. However, it is not the first action because immediate threats to client safety must be addressed before communication. B. Protect clients from immediate injury: The priority in any fire situation is the safety of clients and staff. Removing clients from immediate danger or shielding them from harm takes precedence over reporting, containing, or extinguishing the fire. This aligns with the first step of the RACE protocol (Rescue) in fire safety. C. Contain the fire to one area: Containing the fire by closing doors and windows is critical to prevent spread, but it follows after ensuring that clients and staff are safe from immediate harm. Containment cannot protect individuals already in danger. D. Extinguish the fire if possible: Extinguishing a fire is part of the RACE protocol, but attempting to put out a fire is secondary to rescuing individuals at risk. Only small, controllable fires should be attempted after ensuring safety of clients and staff.