If you had to, would you know how to use a fire extinguisher?
I had to break the glass & use one once to help put out a car engine that was on fire in front of the building.
I actually meant to ask my SCs... not all the kids.
Patti - that is interesting... We had training where I worked by the FD -- a huge tray with several gallons of blazing gasoline - some could not put it out w/the wall extinguisher..
it is actually not that easy... since you must get under the flames & heat.
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January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes, I sure do. In my past life (before retirement), I serviced fire Equipment, INCLUDING extinguishers.
So, I can safely say, that I DO KNOW, how to use one.
I remember the old style extinguishers that you had to tip upside down, to activate the foam mixture. They were big, all copper babies, that weighed a ton. It had a small vial of acid inside, that mixed with the dry powder, and created a mess, that came out by gravity. They are long gone, now, and on occasion, you will see one in an antique shop.
The biggest mistake that people make, is buying an extinguisher that’s either too small, or one that’s not right for what they want to use it for.
For instance, a person should buy only a DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER, that’s rated for A, B, and C fires. (A=paper, cardboard, and most plastics, B=gas and oil, C= electrical appliances), and at least a #4 extinguisher.
NOTE, if you have a fire, that you THINK you might need an extinguisher, it’s probably too late, but call 911, IMMEDIATELY, then use your extinguisher, and be ready to get the hell out.
Also, NEVER, NEVER, EVER, use water on any electrical appliance fire.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I don’t get the question…
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
i think so, but i would glance at the giant illustrated directions on the can.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yep, have used them many, many, many times.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes; pull the pin, if there is one, aim it at the base of the fire, and squeeze.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I know but I understand a lot of people do not know.
It is okay for you to bereak the glass. After all, many fire extinguisher cases have the sign that says "In case of emergency, break glass."
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes I do the instructions are very simple.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
yes.
Remember (P.A.S.S.): Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
1. Pull the safety pin from the handle.
2. Aim the extinguisher nozzle or hose at the base of the fire.
3. Squeeze the handle to discharge the agent.
4. Sweep side to side approximately 6′ from the fire until expended
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes we had the training every year where I worked, we had to put out a fire in a trough to show that we knew how to use it. A car once caught on fire at the university where I worked, a student had started it in front of the dorm building, the physical plant had not removed the leaves (were waiting for Thanksgiving break and all the cars to be gone in the parking areas) and the muffler ingnited the leaves. The student ran inside to get a fire extinguisher from the kitchen and they wouldn’t allow him to use it and called 9-1-1 instead, which basically ruined the car. I would have let them use the fire extinguisher if it was my department, common sense did not prevail that day.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Lol. No, actually. But I’m sure they’re simple and easy to use and I could figure it out if I had to.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes.
My job required that I go to a fire safety seminar annually.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Of course, it’s not rocket science. There’s usually only a safety pin and one trigger on those things that needs to be pulled then you just point it, squeeze and hope for the best. If the extinguisher poops out before the fire does then you run.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yep, aim low
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I’m a voluneer firefighter. I sure as heck better know how to use one!
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I sure do.
Got the course…A, B. C, D,E, F, extinguishers.
Hopefully, they are for all fires. Don’t bank on it.
Each is specialized. Most people don’t realize this.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I’m hot but I’m not so hot as to self-combust…
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
In the Navy, we are all trained on fire fighting, and different types of extinguishers for different types of fire.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes. I’ve used the powder type. It made a mess of everything three rooms away. That powder got on everything.
Now, I keep containers full of baking soda that have large opening shaker tops. These have been very effective on stove top & oven fires. It smothers the flame quickly enough to get my hand to the gas or electric control dial to close the fuel source.
As long as I catch them small, I prefer to smother the flames at the source.
But a larger fire, like you describe, calls for the extinguisher.
I like the answer P.A.S.S. answer for mental prompter in an emergency.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes. I took training in the proper way to extinguish fires with an extinguisher.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Absolutely!
I served 25 years in the Canadian Forces. Military buildings cannot get fire insurance, so the military takes a pretty keen interest in fire safety. There are extinguishers everywhere, and we had regular briefings. In the early years, lots of practice too, but costs kind of slowed that down. Still, fire saftety training was a regular thing.
It never came in handy in the military itself, but it sure has at other times!
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I thought it would be difficult, even though I already knew the P.A.S.S. method. But when I had to use one for the first time in my job, it was a "piece of cake!"
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
The jobs I had prior to retiring, provided me with training in how to use a fire extinguisher. If I had to use one right now, I would still know how to use it. Every home & vehicle should have one & family members should all be taught how to use it.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
yes god forbid but if i needed to im pretty sure i could use one
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I’ve looked at mine that came with my apartment, read the directions several times, have never had to use it, and in a panic I’d probably run for 911 instead of using it.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
We have yearly trainings (except in the nursing home I currently work in) on how to use fire extinguishers in health care. One time we even got to put out a fire in the hospital parking lot.
Good for you for putting out that fire – my big fear of the in-wall fire extinguishers is that with my luck I would slice open an aterery while breaking the glass.
But then maybe I could put out the fire with my spurting blood : > (wicked grin).
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
At 65 with arthritis in my hands I might have a problem pulling the pin out of some extinguishers, but I know how to operate them and could explain how to someone else. Not that that would do much good in a real fire.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I not only know how to use a fire extinguisher, I have used them on several occasions over the years.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes, I spent four years in the Air Force as a firefighter and two years as a civilian fireman at an Army Post and have used an extinguisher many times. Extinguishers come in A,B,C, and D, remember to read the guide and choose the correct one for your needs.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes all kinds. I worked at an older hospital once that had to re do the whole fire alarm system to meet codes. New hoses alarms extinguishers sprinklers were OK.I got myself put in charge of it somehow. Probably do to not having any Pt’s as it was off season.
I got a lesson I never wanted about all things fire. Classes. Burn exercises.
I hated that job.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I am the mother of 2 fire-fighters, 1 fire marshall, several volunteer firemen and mother-in-law of 2 fire-fighters. I have watched them intently show me how to work a fire extinguisher and I appreciated their efforts, however, I have never had the opportunity to actually use one. Now that you have brought up the subject, I intend to call one of them to come over and watch me try to use the one that’s hanging in my garage. We should all know how to use a fire extinguisher properly, but we should also call 911 when we are faced with fire. As Patti said, we have to be careful what types of fires we try to put out and how to properly extinguish one.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Yes =)