Which of the following are safety precautions that must be in place when a laser is used during a case?

• A. Sterile water available, fire extinguisher, and nonexplosive anesthetic agent
• B. Additional lasers and flame sources
• C. Only eyewear protection
• D. Immediate removal of all equipment

Answer: (A)

Laser safety in the operating room relies on having measures to prevent and fight fires and to minimize fuel sources. Having sterile water or saline available allows you to irrigate and cool tissues during laser use and provides a readily available liquid to help extinguish small fires. A fire extinguisher is essential because a laser can ignite drapes, gauze, or other materials, and you need a quick way to suppress a blaze before it spreads. Choosing anesthetic agents that are not explosive or highly flammable reduces the fuel load in the environment, lowering the chance that a laser-related fire will ignite vapors or gases.

Other options miss key safety elements or introduce unnecessary risk. Relying only on eyewear protection ignores the critical need to manage potential fires and fuel sources. Adding more lasers and flame sources would increase risk, not safety. Removing equipment immediately would create dangerous interruptions and hazards instead of preventing them.