When a spill occurs in the operating room, what is the first step to maintain safety and sterility?

• A. Call the supervisor to report the spill.
• B. Document the spill in the incident log.
• C. Prepare PPE for the area.
• D. Contain the spill immediately to prevent spread.

Answer: (D)

The first step is to contain the spill immediately to prevent its spread. Containing the spill quickly protects the sterile field, nearby equipment, and personnel from exposure and contamination, which is the top priority in the operating room. Once the area is contained, you can move on to the proper cleanup following the facility’s spill protocol, which includes donning appropriate PPE and isolating the area, then notifying the supervisor and documenting the incident as required. Contingent actions like calling the supervisor or documenting the spill are important, but they don’t mitigate the immediate risk unless the spill has already been contained.