EVALUATION OF SAFETY PROCEDURES IN ANESTHESIA AND INTENSIVE-CARE

A study was conducted to determine the ability of junior anaesthetists to check the anaesthetic machine, demonstrate a knowledge of a multif unction monitor and a defibrillator, and know the hospital fire drill. The subjects were 38 junior anaesthetists working in a large multi-di sciplinary teaching hospital 45% were able to check the anaesthetic ma chine according to the guidelines of the Australian and New Zealand Co llege of Anaesthetists, and 16% had a complete working knowledge of th e monitor All subjects could use the defibrillator but only 24% could adequately solve the problem of malfunction. Only one subject had a wo rking knowledge of the fire drill; excluding knowledge of the fire dri ll only 3 subjects (8%) satisfactorily completed all aspects of the as sessment. As a result of this study structured checking routines are b eing introduced into anaesthetic teaching and practice and a similar m ulti-center study of specialist anaesthetists is being planned.