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How do I use a fire extinguisher?
Home » Home Security » Fire Extinguishers » How do I use a fire extinguisher?If you see a small fire in your house, first take just a second to analyze the situation. What is causing and fueling the fire? Is the fire close to anything that will greatly increase its progress? Then, warn anyone in the vicinity of the fire and ask them to be ready to call the fire department for help if you need it.
After these brief preliminaries, take the fire extinguisher and remember to PASS:
Pull the pin. Take the pin out from the extinguisher.
Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the flames and at the material that is actually fueling the fire.
Squeeze the lever. Pressing the level will release compressed gas, which will in turn force the extinguishing material out of the nozzle. While the material will come out with a lot of force, there will not be a kick from the extinguisher.
Sweeping motion. Go back and forth along the base of the flames, as long as the material continues coming out of the nozzle.
Most fire extinguishers only have eight to ten seconds’ worth of material, so it is important to be ready before you squeeze the lever and release the material. In addition, as you are putting out the fire, make sure that you do not become trapped by the flames; always keep your back to an escape route.
If the flames are still not out after you use the fire extinguisher, call the fire department, describe the situation as accurately as you can, and ask for instructions. You can also call the fire department before you use the fire extinguisher if you are unsure of what to do.
If you are able to extinguish the flame, wait and watch carefully to make sure that the flame is completely out. If you used a dry chemical extinguisher, you can sweep or vacuum up the residue once you are sure the fire is out. Once you have cleaned up the fire, make sure you determine exactly how the fire ignited and how you can prevent the same thing from happening in the future.
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