There is an English proverb stating, ‘Do not PLAY with FIRE.’ What the proverb omitted is do not play with fire extinguisher. An average person takes at least 8-10 seconds to pull the pin of his fire extinguisher, long enough for a single burning piece of wood to become an inferno. Using an extinguisher is not as easy as you think. If there are more than one person where the fire started it would be wiser for one person to call the fire brigade while the other/others try to put out the fire.
How To Use The Fire Extinguisher
The basic technique to use the fire extinguisher can remembered with a single word “PASS.”
PASS means –
- Pull the extinguisher’s safety pin.
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
- Squeeze the trigger
- Sweep from one side to other side
Every household extinguisher is labeled A, B, or C, which informs you the types of fires the extinguisher can effectively be used. A is for normal combustibles like wood, paper, and cloth; B is for highly flammable liquids, such as gasoline or cooking oil; and C is live electricity which can be very dangerous. In the print on the label, numbers precede these letters, which indicates the extinguisher’s class rating.
When buying fire extinguishers for your home: choose extinguishers labeled “ABC,” which means suitable to combat for all kinds of fire. You can check with us to guide you and educate you on the most suitable fire extinguisher. Call us now on (254) 400-2318 . We are available 24×7
The higher the number the more effective it is and most likely it will have a higher price. For example, an extinguisher with a 6-A rating is more effective on ordinary combustibles than a 4-A one. The C word does not have any number; it just means the extinguisher’s chemicals won’t conduct electricity and can be used to put out electricity-caused fires.
Precautions
However, there are times when an extinguisher is not enough. They are only meant for small fires. If the fire is too big, you should get your family and yourself out and call 911.
A few advices would be
- Make sure they have gauges on the fire extinguisher so that you can check how much chemicals is remaining in the tank.
- Get a fire extinguisher you can comfortably carry, so you’ll have some serious fire-fighting power.
- Store your fire extinguishers near the exits so that you can fight the fire from a place from where there’s a clear way to escape. Make sure they are easy to grab and not hooked onto something.
- Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher. Be well versed with its parts and operation before a fire breaks out.
- Recharge or Replace extinguishers after each use even if you see the gauge showing as full
- Last but not the least keep the number of fire brigade, if don’t know then dial 911 or the police.
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