When it comes to preventing the spread of any fire, a fire extinguisher is the first line of defense, either at home or in the workplace. The use of fire extinguishers is easy, but at the same time, it’s crucial to learn the proper, effective, and safe way to extinguish a fire.
There are still some common mistakes that people make when using fire extinguishers and those mistakes should be avoided in the event of an emergency.
Not Pulling the Extinguisher Pin
Removing the safety pin from the fire extinguisher is vital before using the fire extinguisher
Even with proper training in using fire extinguishers, it is usual to forget to pull or remove the safety pin in a moment of urgency to fight any fire.
In any case, a person is unaware that fire extinguishers contain this pin or puzzled to pull the pin that will render the extinguisher useless even in the event of an emergency. Therefore, removing the safety pin from the fire extinguisher is vital before using the fire extinguisher to put out the blaze.
Standing Way Too Close to the Fire
One of the most common mistakes people make about the blaze is standing at the wrong distance when tackling a fire. If they are too far away from fire hazards, and operating then its discharge will be far too weak, and the fire may not go out. Likewise, if standing too close to the fire, people could potentially burn themselves or even help spread the fire. They should avoid such mistakes!
Therefore, maintaining the correct distance between the fire extinguisher and the fire is one of the most important things to remember. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), it is recommended to maintain a distance of approximately 8 ft. away from the blaze or the flames.
Not Reading the Instructions
Many people walk by fire extinguishers every day without reading the instructions printed right on them, and this is the most common mistake that everyone should avoid. Reading the instructions in the event of a fire is not at all a good idea, as it will use up valuable time, but also allow the small fire to grow.
Therefore, it is advisable to take the time out as soon as possible to read over the instructions on the fire extinguisher, so people know exactly how to use it when facing any fire tragedy.
There are various types of fire extinguishers available to tackling certain types of fire - every fire extinguisher will have on it detailed instructions citing the exact steps and precautions needed to tackle a fire effectively and safely.
