During a hospital fire, which step should be performed first?

• A. Rescue
• B. Alarm
• C. Confine
• D. Extinguish

Answer: (A)

The main idea tested is the priority of actions when a fire starts in a hospital. The first action is rescuing anyone in immediate danger. In healthcare settings, many patients cannot move on their own, so staff must prioritize getting people out of harm’s way before doing anything else. This lifesaving focus explains why rescue comes first, even before sounding the alarm or trying to confine or extinguish the fire. After people are safe, you alert others to summon help, then work to confine the fire by closing doors and restricting access, and only attempt to extinguish if you are trained and it is safe to do so. So, rescuing those at risk is the correct first step.