Using Fire Extinguishers Safely

1. Using Fire Extinguishers Safely

2. What we will learn today • We will talk about different types of fire extinguishers, how to use them safely, and in what situations you would use them.

3. We have already learned that: • Fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen to create the chemical chain reaction that causes fire • If you remove one of the elements, the fire cannot survive

4. Do you have a fire extinguisher in your home? • Every home should have one • Where is it located? • Extinguishers should be located in plain view, near an escape route • Kitchen, garage, workroom

5. Fire extinguishers have chemicals in them that suppress the fire • There are four different classes of fires • Class of fire determines which extinguisher to use • Most common type of extinguisher - use on most household fires - contains a combination of dry chemicals that look like a white powder • powder interrupts the chemical chain reaction and suffocates the fire

6. Just like matches and lighters are not toys, a fire extinguisher is not a toy • Cause damage if not used properly • Should only be used in emergency situations for one purpose - to extinguish a fire

7. Fire extinguishers are identified by a letter that determines what materials it will be most effective on and a number that determines how much area it covers. 4-A 20B:C • Those two factors determine where and how long a fire extinguisher is most effective

8. A • Letter designation tells us what the extinguisher is most effective on Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, clothing, household furnishings B Flammable liquids such as gasoline, alcohol, paints, motor oil, cooking oil and cleaners C Energized (plugged in) electrical equipment like televisions, computers or wiring

9. The numbers tell us how large an area the extinguisher is most effective on. • A number 1 would be on a small area extinguisher, like what you would find in a kitchen. • Means there is only contents to be used on a very small, ordinary fire like wood or paper • A number 4 rating means that it can extinguish a fire 4 times larger than a number 1 rating

10. So the rating on our 4-A 20 B:C extinguisher means: • Multipurpose extinguisher because of its A-B-C rating • Can extinguish a Class A fire 4 times larger than a 1-A • Can extinguish a Class B:C fire 20 times larger than a 1-B:C 4-A 20B:C

11. Fire extinguishers should only be used in certain situations: • the fire is smaller than a waste basket • the fire is contained to one item (like a small waste basket) and has not spread anywhere else • everyone else is out of the building • you have a clear exit to safety • And only if you have been taught how to use it

12. It is important to know when to use a fire extinguisher - and when not to. • Unless the fire is very small and contained, do not try to fight a fire yourself • Get out, make sure everyone else is out, and call the fire department

13. When using a fire extinguisher, remember to PASS • Pull the pin • Aim the nozzle • Squeeze the handle • Sweep the nozzle • Always aim at the base of the fire for the most effective use

14. Like your smoke alarms, fire extinguishers need to be checked often to make sure it is in good working order • After use, it should be maintained or replaced

15. REMEMBER - a fire extinguisher is an important fire safety tool. It should never be played with or pointed at someone.