A fire extinguisher is a must-have piece of equipment in your home or office. They are indispensable for ensuring fire safety when a fire breaks out. However, just having a fire extinguisher isn't enough to keep yourself, your family, your property, your workers, your colleagues, etc., safe when a fire breaks out. Can you operate it properly? Many people do not understand how to use fire extinguishers the right way. Unfortunately, using your fire extinguisher incorrectly can put you and others in even more danger. Therefore, here are some critical mistakes to avoid next time you use a fire extinguisher.
Using The Wrong Type Of Fire Extinguisher
Fires are usually categorised in various classes, depending on the cause. For instance, a fire may break out from solid combustibles like paper, cloth and wood, flammable liquids like petrol and oil, faulty electricals, cooking oils, etc. Therefore, fire extinguishers are designed for these different fire classes. That's because the extinguishant, or fire extinguishing agent used in the fire extinguisher, may work on some types of fires and fail on others. Failing to use the correct fire extinguisher can be disastrous. For instance, a fire extinguisher that uses water extinguishants may not be the best for putting out electrical fires because of electrocution risks. Fortunately, the fire extinguishers are usually labelled, so be careful to read the instructions carefully before using one. You can also consider investing in fire extinguishers designed for multipurpose use. Nonetheless, ensure everyone in your home or office understands the type of fire extinguishers you have and when to use them.
Discharging The Extinguishant Incorrectly
You will not get the results you want from your fire extinguisher if you don't discharge the extinguishing agent properly, even if you're using the right fire extinguisher. Generally, there are a few standard steps in operating a fire extinguisher, although the specifics may differ slightly depending on the fire extinguisher model. However, the first step is to pull a pin, usually located at the top of the equipment, to break the seal. Next, you have to aim the fire extinguisher nozzle at the fire's base instead of the flames. The third step is to squeeze the handle, releasing the extinguishant. Last, while still aiming at the base of the fire, you need to sweep your fire extinguisher from side to side until the fire starts going out.
Not Being Vigilant
It's imperative to repeat the discharge process to get the best results. However, sometimes the fire can reignite. Therefore, it's critical to be on the lookout to not miss it when it does. And if the fire fails to go out completely, it's best to know where the exits are so you can always escape safely.
For more information about fire extinguishers, contact a local supplier.
Welcome to my blog! My name is Elsie and I am here to offer you a range of different articles which will help you to understand the impact which energy production can have on the natural world. I don't want to ruin our children's futures, so I decided to get educated about this important topic. I started out by reading everything I could on this subject. Then I contacted an energy consultant and asked him to look at my property so I could work out which changes would be best in terms of protecting the environment. I hope my blog inspires you to take similar action.