Safety Tips: Using a Fire Extinguisher
June 8, 2018
Hopefully, you will never find yourself in a situation that requires you to put out a fire. It can be scary, dangerous and overwhelming for anyone to be put in that scenario. Unfortunately, fires happen all the time. They can happen in your home, at your place of work, or even in your car. They happen more often than you believe and could lead to great injury.
Many victims of a fire end up dealing with smoke inhalation or first, second or third-degree burns, which can impact your life for the long term. And of course, the worst case scenario when it comes to a fire is death. That is why knowing how to properly use a fire extinguisher can go a long way in keeping you and others safe.
Know the Steps, Act Accordingly
Properly using a fire extinguisher is much easier than it looks. All it takes are four simple steps:
- Pull – the first step is to pull the pin on the fire extinguisher. This will break the tamper seal and let you operate the extinguisher.
- Aim – next you should aim the nozzle at the base of the fire. You should aim at the base and not at the flames because you want to hit what is fueling the fire in order to effectively put it out.
- Squeeze – after properly aiming and situating yourself about eight feet from the fire, the next step is to squeeze the handle to spray the base of the fire.
- Sweep – when spraying, you should move the nozzle in a sweeping motion, still aimed at the base of the fire. Do this until the flames are completely extinguished.
It is important to keep in mind that you need to completely put out a fire for it to be safe. If you still see embers then you need to continue using the fire extinguisher because they have the potential to reignite. If you use up the fire extinguisher but were unable to put out the fire then you should head to the nearest and safest exit. Fire extinguishers come in different sizes and some are not big enough to handle a large fire.
Erie Lawyers Help Injured Clients
Fires are dangerous and can spread quickly and unexpectedly, causing great harm to people and objects alike. If you have been injured in a fire, you might have the right to legal recourse, especially if the fire can be traced to a negligent party. You should contact the personal injury lawyers at Purchase, George & Murphy, P.C. With years of experience, the Pennsylvania law firm can help you attain compensation for any damages you have suffered. Contact them at 814-273-2010 to begin discussing your legal options today.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.