Fire Extinguisher Use
Fire Extinguisher Use When walking around any public building, you should notice fire extinguishers scattered about, posted on the walls of rooms and hallways.
Each state has developed building codes that require public structures to have certain fire safety standards in place.
In addition to specifying the number of smoke detectors, the requirements for indoor sprinklers, and the number of fire exits in a building, these regulations also determine the number and location of fire extinguishers inside.
As a civilian, you should familiarize yourself with basic fire extinguisher use.
Some employers will run their workers through fire safety training, especially if there is a chance they will be put in a situation in which they need to know how to put out a fire.
However, many people are not given this type of education and therefore do not know how to properly operate a fire extinguisher.
Having this knowledge is important, however.
You never know when you will need to use one of these devices to keep a small blaze from spreading into a tragic fire.
Types of Extinguishers You should first be aware of the fact that there are actually four different types of fire extinguishers, all of which fall into classifications A through D.
There are so many because your basic extinguishing substances - like water - cannot put out certain fires.
Failure to do so could make matters worse by causing the flame to react and spread.
How to Use a Fire Extinguisher There is one basic rule of thumb that you should remember when turning to a fire extinguisher to put out a fire: PASS.
This anagram stands for the following series of events:
Each state has developed building codes that require public structures to have certain fire safety standards in place.
In addition to specifying the number of smoke detectors, the requirements for indoor sprinklers, and the number of fire exits in a building, these regulations also determine the number and location of fire extinguishers inside.
As a civilian, you should familiarize yourself with basic fire extinguisher use.
Some employers will run their workers through fire safety training, especially if there is a chance they will be put in a situation in which they need to know how to put out a fire.
However, many people are not given this type of education and therefore do not know how to properly operate a fire extinguisher.
Having this knowledge is important, however.
You never know when you will need to use one of these devices to keep a small blaze from spreading into a tragic fire.
Types of Extinguishers You should first be aware of the fact that there are actually four different types of fire extinguishers, all of which fall into classifications A through D.
There are so many because your basic extinguishing substances - like water - cannot put out certain fires.
- Class A: Used on fires whose sources are combustibles, like wood or plastic
- Class B: Used on fires whose sources are flammable liquids, like gas
- Class C: Used on electrical fires
- Class D: Used on fires sparked by combustible metals
Failure to do so could make matters worse by causing the flame to react and spread.
How to Use a Fire Extinguisher There is one basic rule of thumb that you should remember when turning to a fire extinguisher to put out a fire: PASS.
This anagram stands for the following series of events:
- Pull the extinguisher's pin
- Aim the extinguisher at the base of the flame
- Squeeze the lever
- Sweep the nozzle from side to side across the fire
