Fire Extinguisher training

Having a fire extinguisher close at hand is essential. Have you ever been trained on how to use it properly? If a fire breaks out will you know what to do? Here is some guidance on the types of fire extinguishers and some tips on how to use them

There are 5 types of fire extinguishers, they are

• Class 'A'. Water filled extinguisher used for materials such as wood, paper, most plastics.
• Class 'B'. Typically a Dry Chemical filled extinguisher or a CO2 filled extinguisher. used on liquid fires such as, gasoline, oil, etc.
• Class 'C'. Typically a Dry Chemical filled extinguisher or a CO2 filled extinguisher. These are used for electrical fires.
• Class 'D'. These are a special chemical based filled extinguisher. They are used on metal fires.
• Class 'K'. May contain a wet or dry agent for extinguishment. Used in resteraunt hood systems to put out oil and grease type fires

They also make multi purpose extinguishers such as a Class ABC extinguisher. These can be used on multiple fire types.

Using the extinguisher

Remember the acronym PASS when using a fire extinguisher.

• P -> Pull the pin (located in the handle).
• A -> Aim the fire extinguisher nozzle at the seat of the fire.
• S -> Squeeze the trigger.
• S -> Sweep the extinguisher back and forth to cover the fire.

It's a good idea to check out your extinguishers and see what type of fire they are rated for. Do you know where your fire extinguisher is? You do not want to be looking around for it when the fire is starting to spread, make sure you know where they are located and that in the event of a fire they are easily accessible.

When used properly fire extinguishers can save lives and property, knowing how to use them is essential