How To Use A Fire Extinguisher

Do you even know how to use a fire extinguisher if there is a small fire in your home?

I have to confess that I wasn't confident about doing it.

Even though fire extinguishers are designed to be used by anyone, they can look a bit intimidating.

However, when it comes to the safety of my family and home I needed to suck it up and learn how to use one, and so should you.

Therefore, in honor of fire safety week there are some simple, easy to follow instructions, plus some fire extiguisher tips below.

Fire Extinguisher Basics

First, you should own at least one fire extingusher for your home, and store at least one of them in the kitchen.

These fire extinguishers should be combination ABC fire extinguishers, meaning they can be used to treat A (wood and paper), B (grease and oil) and C (electrical) fires.

Unless you buy a rechargeable fire extinguisher once you use it, for any reason, you will need to buy another one.

Make sure everyone that is a responsible age in your home (even kids) knows where the fire extinguisher is located, and that everyone can easily get to it if needed.

You definitely don't want a fire emergency currently happening and not be able to get to the fire extinsguisher easily because it is shoved on the back of a top shelf, for example.

Fire Extinguishers Cannot And Should Not Replace The Fire Department

Fire extinguishers are just one piece of the fire safety puzzle. Whenever a fire occurs in your home you need to call the fire department immediately.

While one person is trying to put the fire out with the extinguisher another person needs to be calling 911.

This is important because you don't want to waste time waiting for the fire department if you did not successfully stop the fire with the extinguisher.

In addition, even if you believe the fire is out the fire department should still come to check it out, because you don't want a fire to be smoldering and reignite later when you think everything is OK.

Everyone Should Learn How To Use A Fire Extinguisher

The video below is the best one I could find which demonstrates the mechanics of using a fire extinguisher.

I encourage you to watch the video to see it done, but I will summarize what she says in the video for you also.

She uses the acronym PASS to help everyone easily remember what to do.

P - Pull the pin

A - Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire

S - Squeeze the trigger

S - Sweep the nozzle back and forth

Here is the video where she demonstrates the technique. I encourage you and others in your home to watch it, so everyone can learn how to use a fire extinguisher.