Suddenly, you are faced with an on board flame. What happens next can make all the difference.
Fire extinguishers are labeled according to the type of fire on which they may be used. Fires involving wood or cloth, flammable liquids, electrical current or a combination of those will each react differently to extinguishers. Using the wrong type of extinguisher on a particular type of fire could be dangerous and make matters even worse. In the heat of the moment reading the directions on the extinguisher is an after-thought.
Remember the P-A-S-S word!
- Pull the pin at the top of the cylinder
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
- Squeeze or press the handle
- Sweep the contents from side to side at the base of the fire until it goes out