You see fire extinguishers all the time in public places, but have you ever learned how to properly use one?
Many of us pass fire extinguishers on an everyday basis when we walk through places of business. However, how many people actually know how to use one correctly? Often times, we don’t even think about the possibility of having to put a fire out with an extinguisher, but it is good to know how to just in case of an emergency. Here’s how to properly use a fire extinguisher.
The Right Type
All fire extinguishers generally have one universal look, but there are a large variety of types. Each one is made to put out a different type of fire and they are separated by classification systems. Here is how the system is broken down in the U.S:
- Class A: Regular solids such as wood, cloth, and paper products
- Class B: Flammable liquids and gases
- Class C: Electrical Fires
- Class D: Metals
- Class K: Grease Fires
Majority of fire extinguishers are known as class ABC extinguishers, meaning that they are good to use for all three of those classes. Class K extinguishers are used in restaurants since they are made for grease fires. However, an ABC extinguisher will more than likely still do the trick for an at home grease fire, but it may damage your stove.
Assess The Situation
The first step when using a fire extinguisher to put out a fire is to assess the fire itself. Fire extinguishers are meant to put out fires in the beginning stages, so sometimes the problem may be too big. A quick way to assess this is to take a quick glance at the fire and see if it is taller than you. If it is, then you should call 911 and evacuate. Make sure you have the right type of extinguisher for the fire that you’re going to put out. Lastly, you want to check the gauge on the extinguisher to see if it’s fully pressurized. If the needle is green, then it’s good to use. Make sure you know the range of your fire extinguisher (most range from 6-20 feet) so that you know how far away to stand.
PASS
This is a simply acronym to help you remember the steps to putting out a fire.
P= Pull the Pin
A= Aim the nozzle at the bottom of the fire. It’s ineffective to try hitting the top of the flames.
S= Squeeze the trigger
S= Sweep from side to side. You want to use this motion until the fire is out and remember to always aim at the base.
You want to stick around for a little bit after the fire is out to make sure that there are no spots that you missed or any more fires starting to form. Once you are finished, make sure you recharge it so that it can be used again.
Contact Advanced Fire Protection Systems Today
Advanced Fire Protection Systems is committed to providing all of our commercial and residential customers with effective and appropriate fire protection systems. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to meet all of your fire protection needs and keep your business running. We provide full-service design, construction, testing, and maintenance for all water-based fire protection systems. Let us use our years of experience to protect your residential or commercial property from fires. To get started with Advanced Fire Protection Systems today, contact us online or give us a call at 443-557-0321.