Final answer:
It is false to always turn off the oxygen supply in the event of an OR fire, as doing so without considering the patient's needs could cause severe harm due to oxygen depletion.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the event of a fire in the operating room (OR), it is false that one should always turn off the flow of oxygen regardless of the patient's oxygen saturation. Oxygen is essential for patient survival, and its abrupt discontinuation could lead to severe hypoxemia and potential harm to the patient. The firefighters and surgical team need to assess the situation carefully and take appropriate measures to both manage the fire and ensure the patient's safety. This may involve stopping a gas that is feeding the fire while providing a necessary amount of oxygen to the patient.
Oxygen by itself is not flammable, but it can accelerate the combustion of other materials. Therefore, it's critical to balance the risk of feeding the fire against the risk of oxygen depletion, which would result in die-off of tissues due to lack of oxygen. Hemoglobin has a high affinity for oxygen, and lowering oxygen levels too rapidly could lead to tissue hypoxia despite the hemoglobin's capacity to bind oxygen efficiently under normal circumstances.