Secure Zone Safety - Fire Extinguisher

Fire Extinguisher

In the event of a fire, it's a good idea if there's a fire extinguisher nearby. But if a fire broke out, would you really know what to do?

Learn What to Do in Case of Fire

In grade school, we all learned that if we catch on fire, we should stop, drop and roll. That's good to remember, but if there's a fire in your office or at home, would you remember to use the fire extinguisher? Would you even know how? Well, before you even try, first do these two things:

Call 911 and activate the fire alarm (if you're in a building other than a house)
Assist anyone who needs help getting out

Then and only then should you try to put the fire out. Now, bear in mind that this is only for small fires. If the fire is too big by the time you help others out, a fire extinguisher probably won't put the fire out. It can, however, help you clear a path to get yourself out if the fire is blocking you in.

Have a Fire Extinguisher Drill

Having a fire extinguisher in your home isn't enough if you don't know how to use it. After all, during a fire, time is of the essence. You don't want to waste it by trying to learn how to use the fire extinguisher. Get familiar with your fire extinguisher before a fire happens. Here's the standard operating procedure for most fire extinguishers:

Pull the pin out of the lever and hold the extinguisher upright.
Make sure the hose is free and stand at least eight feet away from the fire.
Aim the hose at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever and sweep the hose side to side.