Fire extinguishers are common items we see around us–home, office, public places, etc. I am very sure you know what they are meant for and when they should be used. But have you ever thought about actually using it when the situation arises?
In our next blog, we will focus on types of extinguishers and when to apply them but today, let’s just dive into HOW TO ACTUALLY USE THIS IMPORTANT MACHINE.
A simple 4 step process will put you on the pro side of using fire extinguishers. See the picture below.
- Pull the pin.
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire. Hitting the tops of the flame with the extinguisher won’t be effective. You got to smother the sucker at its base.
- Squeeze the trigger. In a controlled manner, squeeze the trigger to release the agent.
- Sweep from side to side. Sweep the nozzle from side to side until the fire is put out. Keep aiming at the base while you do so. Most extinguishers will give you about 10-20 seconds of discharge time.
Slowly back away. Even if the fire appears to be extinguished, don’t turn your back on it. There might be unseen hot spots or hidden fires that can ignite into a large flame at any moment. You want to be on guard for that.