A home fire extinguisher is useful only if it’s the right type and if you know how to use it correctly. Here’s what you need to know.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
When it comes to homeowners fears, a fire in the house is at the top of the list. Good smoke detectors and an escape plan are the first line of defense, but you might be amazed at how many homes are without one of these: A fire extinguisher.
It’s recommended that you keep a fire extinguisher on each floor of the home and in plain sight or at least easy to reach.
Do not put the fire extinguisher up high where you must reach for it.
Do keep it near where fires are more likely to occur, the kitchen and the garage for instance.
Now fire extinguishers come with ratings. Generally speaking, a home needs a multi-purpose extinguisher rated A-B or C. This covers the most commonly found in homes- things like paper, cardboard, rubber, liquids appliances or small electrical devices. The ratings are found on the side of the carton.
A helpful tip for remembering how to use a fire extinguisher is PASS – P-A-S-S
– Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you, and release the locking mechanism.
– Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
– Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
– Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.
I’m going to demonstrate the PASS process with a fire extinguisher and I’m going to do so with my friend TJ here. How old are you TJ?
TJ: I’m 14.
Jay: Even a teenager can put out a fire, you’re perfectly capable. I’m going to free up the hose. All right, you hold that, here we go.
Squeeze. There you go, nice, back and forth. Sweeping, that fire’s history.
A fire extinguisher is only useful on certain fires. A small fire, such as a trashcan fire, can usually be put out by a fire extinguisher.
But if you do not know what is burning, do not use an extinguisher. And do not try to use the extinguisher if the fire is too big to control. In that case, know when to go, get out, and call 9-1-1.
And another rule of thumb is to use the extinguisher as you back toward your exit. If the fire turns out to be too big for the extinguisher to handle, you need to quickly get out.
Nobody wants to have a fire emergency in the home, but being armed with the proper tools like this can be the key to preventing a small fire from becoming a devastating big fire. With tips for a healthier home, I’m Jay Baker.