Which tactic should be noted in a healthcare preincident plan due to nonambulatory patients?

• A. Defend in place
• B. Evacuate
• C. Immediate rescue
• D. Zone evacuations

Answer: (A)

When there are patients who cannot move themselves quickly, the plan prioritizes keeping them safe where they are rather than moving them immediately. This approach, often called defend in place, means locking down the immediate area to protect occupants, closing doors to limit the spread of smoke, maintaining life-support and monitoring equipment, and continuing patient care in the current location while the hazard is controlled. It also involves identifying safe zones or areas of refuge on the same floor and ensuring staff know how to shield vulnerable patients and coordinate with responders before any transfer is attempted. Evacuation and rescue actions still happen when conditions permit and with appropriate equipment, but for nonambulatory patients, defending in place provides the most reliable protection during the early phase of an incident and helps prevent harm from rushed or impossible moves.