Be Prepared, Own a Fire Extinguisher

There are many hazards in the world today and one of the most common ones is fire. Whether you are on the job or at home, it is important to be prepared for the worst of situations, so being trained properly in prevention and safety is the best way to make sure that you and your loved ones are safe. To make this possible, it is important to know proper and prevention techniques.

The best way to be prepared in case of flames is to have the correct type of fire extinguisher for your home or business. The most common types are dry chemical, water, and carbon dioxide.

• Water based fire extinguishers are best for the most common flame sources such as wood or paper, but not metal or liquid because the flames of those types will only spread, making the problem worse.

• Dry chemical based fire extinguishers work for the above types of fires as well as some chemicals and is the most common type of fire extinguisher. These contain such chemicals as potassium bicarbonate and ammonium phosphate. They should not be used on electronics however as the acid in them could corrode the sensitive materials.

• Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers are the best for electronics because they do not leave messy and toxic chemicals behind. They should also not be used for fires on flammable metals due to the possibility of reaction and reigniting.

Before you get your fire extinguisher you need to look for any possible hazards that may be in your environment so that you know what type to have around. Also make sure you know how to operate it so that you can put out any fires if one were to occur.

If you do feel as though you need to fight flames with a fire extinguisher, use what is termed the "buddy system" so that you have someone else there to help you fight it. Then you and your "buddy" need to pull the pins on your extinguishers and while standing several feet away and push on the handle and make a wide sweeping motion over the fire, while aiming for the base of the flames.

When you are using a fire extinguisher make sure that you read all the instructions and keep in mind that you do not have to fight the fire, so if you are ever in a situation where you do not feel in control, do not use it. No matter how big or how small, call your local fire department to have the burn area inspected.