A tornado warning siren goes off during a dental procedure (after local anesthetic has been administered). The dental assistant says it's a false alarm. What should the dentist do?

Correct answer: C. Immediately seek shelter with the patient and staff

• A. Incorrect. Asking the patient for input delays the immediate safety response.
• B. Incorrect. The dentist cannot rely on the dental assistant's informal reassurance to override an official public emergency warning.
• C. Correct. TORNADO WARNINGS are emergency alerts requiring IMMEDIATE protective action. The dentist's duty is to IMMEDIATELY SEEK SHELTER with patients and staff. OSHA and emergency management protocols require responding to emergency warnings, regardless of prior experience suggesting false alarms. Patient safety (and staff safety) during an emergency supersedes all other considerations including treatment continuity.
• D. Incorrect. During an active emergency warning, seeking shelter is not a matter for patient consent — it is the immediate safety obligation.