Using Fire Extinguishers Safely

1. Using Fire Extinguishers Safely

2. Overview • Different types of fire extinguishers, • How to use them safely, • In what situations you should use them.

3. Fire Basics • 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. Location • 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. Types • 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. Warning • 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. Identification • 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 • These two factors determine where and how long a fire extinguisher is most effective

8. Letter Designation 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. Numeric Designation • 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. Ratings • 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. When to Use … • 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. When to Use … • 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. PASS • 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. Maintenance • 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.