Portable fire extinguishers are life savers that save lives and property. But when it comes to the rapid spread of a fire, fire extinguishers alone are sometimes not enough. They delay your time as it makes it easier to evacuate the building until the fire department arrives; however, you cannot benefit from it if you do not choose the right fire extinguisher safety.
Choosing the right fire extinguisher according to the type of fire emergency you will encounter in your building or office plays an important role in putting out the fire.
For example, in hospitals, you will not face class K fire emergencies. Similarly, you won’t see Class B house fires. Unless you have flammable paint on hand.
Therefore, it is extremely important to know. How to use fire extinguishers and which one to use with which kind of fire. Don’t worry if you don’t know how this works. Because in this article we will be discussing the same things along with fire extinguisher safety tips.
Don’t forget the following fire extinguisher safety tips
Portable fire extinguishers are the best first line of defense against fire emergencies. Therefore, before you use your fire extinguisher for your defense, you should consider the following.
Fire extinguishers must be accessible
How tragic would it be to be locked in your building while the fire breaks out and you don’t even know where to look for the fire extinguishers?
Make sure everyone in the building knows exactly where the fire extinguisher is located. All obstacles must be removed so that everyone can easily reach them.
Check the pressure of the fire extinguisher
Most portable fire extinguishers are equipped with a valve or pressure gauge that shows the exact pressure of the extinguisher. Make sure it is within normal limits, not too high and not too low.
Functional parts for fire extinguishers
The working parts of the fire extinguisher include a hose, canister, and nozzle. Make sure they are not rusted, dented, or damaged before you put your hands in the extinguisher to put out the fire.
Cleaning fire extinguishers is important
Cleanliness is an important factor in the proper functioning of fire extinguishers. Dust, grease, or oil can slow down or prevent the extinguisher from working normally.
If you have checked all the above points on your fire extinguisher and your fire extinguisher meets all the requirements, it is safe to use in the event of a fire. Therefore, it is very important to check these things regularly because you never know when the fire will start and that makes it difficult for you.
Below we will discuss some fire extinguisher safety tips to practice the proper use of fire extinguishers.
Security advice
Fire extinguishers are useful when the fire is not intense and can be contained with the extinguisher. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use your fire extinguisher if a fire breaks out in your building, but it’s best to call the fire department as soon as possible and evacuate residents by putting out the fire with fire extinguishers.
To operate fire extinguishers correctly, follow the PASS phenomenon, which states
- Pull the pin on the fire extinguisher. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointed towards you and unlock the locking mechanism.
- Your crosshairs must be at the base of the fire to put out the fire from the base of the flames. Putting out the fire is much easier this way.
- Push the stick steadily and slowly towards the fire.
- Move the spout from one side to another.
Although portable extinguishers are manufactured according to the class of fire, multi-use extinguishers are also available. These extinguishers are the best option for home fires where the emergency can be easily contained.
If you do not know the preventive measures or parts of the fire extinguisher safety and tips. So, it is best to read this manual that comes with the extinguisher and familiarizes yourself with the parts of the device.
Even if you equip yourself with one of the best fire extinguishers. Remember that these extinguishers are the response to fire emergencies. And the ulterior motive is to save the lives of the occupants. If everyone can safely exit the building and the fire cannot be contained without the help of the fire department. It is best to leave this to the professionals.
Everyone who wants to play their role in the field of fire protection, fire prevention, and protection should take this into account!
