Tag Archives: fire extinguisher

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

4 Important Reasons for having a Fire Extinguisher in the Home

Did you know that there’s been 355,400 home fires between 2012 and 2016? These fires caused 11,670   injuries, 2,560 deaths, and $6.5 billion in damages. Only 75% of homes own a fire extinguisher, that when used correctly, could make the difference between a small flare-up or extensive damage and injuries.

Now, let’s look at 4 important reasons for having a fire extinguisher in the home.

1. Cooking Fires are a Large Cause of Injuries
About 65% of home fires were from home cooking. More than half of cooking fire injuries happened when people tried to fight the fire themselves.

The type of fire extinguisher for the kitchen are either a combined A-B-C Class, or a specific one like K Class for grease and oil fires. These are best stored on a wall or under the sink for easy and quick access. Don’t mount it next to the stove, you don’t want to reach through the flames to grab it.

2. The Garage is Where the Majority of Fires Start
The garage can hold some pretty flammable material – paint, gasoline, solvents and other hazardous items. For many homes the garage is where the washer and dryer are located as well. Over 93% of home fires started in the garage and accountsfor an average of 30 deaths a year and are the most destructive.

The best type of extinguisher to keep in the garage is again a combination A-B-C class. Get the largest size you can handle easily to help extinguish larger fires or in a bigger space. Remember to store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

3. You need Clear Escape Routes
You and your family should have an escape route plan in place for any time there’s a fire.  It’s best to have several alternate routes in case of fire obstruction.

Next, you should have one extinguisher on each floor of your home to help clear your escape path. Remember to keep the extinguisher free of clutter, you don’t want to be moving stuff in order to reach it. Don’t try and fight large spreading fires – a good rule of thumb is if the fire is taller than you, it’s best to get out another way.

4. Sources of Heat are High Risk Areas
What do I mean by “sources of heat”? Here’s a few:
⦁ Fireplace
⦁ Wood or Pellet stove
⦁ Laundry room (dryer)
⦁ Electrical Panels
⦁ Furnace
The combination of electrical parts and heat is a sure opportunity of a fire happening. Again, do not store them right next to the heat source, at least 30 feet away is a good gauge for safety.

Conclusion
Everyone should learn how to use a fire extinguisher properly and efficiently, otherwise you defeat the purpose of owning one.

Remember though, these fire extinguishers work best on contained fires – a cooking pot, a wastebasket, an appliance, and such. Fires spread quickly, so if a fire is spreading quickly in your home, it’s best to get out quickly and wait for the fire department.

For more information on fire extinguishers or fire safety contact us – All Florida Fire Equipment.

About the Author:
Tracy Stine is a freelance writer, an online sign language tutor, and a disability advocate.

For more information on fire extinguishers or fire safety contact – All Florida Fire Equipment.
First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES EVERY TRAVELER MUST HAVE (GUEST POST)

Sent to us by Joe Schembri

Road trips have become one of the favorite choices for family vacations. Hopping into a motorhome with your loved ones can save the cost of airfare and make the vacation much more affordable. An even bigger draw is the element of adventure that comes with taking to the open road. Families tend to plan out their itinerary, attractions to visit, places to eat, but most don’t plan for emergencies. It can be fun to take an unexpected detour, but make sure that any surprises that come up are pleasant ones.

Unfortunately, some surprising elements can end up ruining your road trip if you aren’t careful. If you and your family are driving at night, heading towards an RV park where you’ll camp for the night and your tire blows out, would you be ready for it? Preparation is the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major setback for your vacation. Here are some vital emergency supplies that you should be sure to gather before travelling.

Spare tire

Having a spare tire is not enough. Most people are sure not to drive without a spare tire, but not everyone checks to assure that the tire is in working order. What good is a spare tire if it is not in good condition? Before heading out on a road trip, make sure that your spare tires are in perfect condition.

Jack and Tire Iron

Having a working spare tire will do you no good without a jack and tire iron to help you change the tire. Make sure that the jack is working properly before you set out. As for the tire iron, a 4 way tire iron is the best choice. This tool can provide more leverage for difficult lug nuts, which is especially important if you are driving a rental car or RV.

Rain gear

There is nothing quite like rainstorms to make your bad luck feel even worse. If it starts raining when you are trying to change a tire, the experience will be much easier if you have the appropriate rain gear to keep you dry and improve visibility.

Fire extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is a vital safety tool for any traveler. Make sure that it is always accessible. If an emergency breaks out, you don’t want to have to dig out the extinguisher from below your luggage.

First aid kit

A first aid kit is an absolute must, no matter where you are travelling. Injuries can happen anywhere, so a well-stocked first aid kit can help treat minor wounds and even prevent an unplanned trip to the emergency room. Like the other supplies, check this kit before your departure and restock any missing supplies.

Jumper cables

A dead battery can put a damper on your travel plans and ruin your planned itineraries if you don’t have jumper cables handy. Why wait for roadside assistance when a quick battery jump can get you back to your fun plans?

Cat litter

Cat litter is a must for any cold weather road trip. If you’re driving in snow or ice this can help provide traction if you’re stuck. It can help you to get back on the road without having to call for help and wait for a tow truck.

Credit card and cash

It is important to make sure that you have access to money in case of an emergency. Have multiple forms of payment available just in case. Some places may not take credit cards, so have cash on hand as well. Your money is your last resort if your safety supplies don’t cover the scope of your emergency.

Being prepared before travelling allows you to have peace of mind. You don’t want to spend your vacation worrying about what might go wrong. Moreover, you don’t want an actual problem to occur and derail your fun. Safety supplies can assure that your trip is wonderful and full of only lovely surprises. 

This guest post was provided by Joe Schembri from Tampa, FL. Joe has traveled in everything from a small sedan to a Class C Motorhome and learned about some of these safety tips the hard way.

General Safety Issues

WHEN TO USE FIRE BLANKETS V.S. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

When to Use Fire Blankets vs Fire Extinguishers

Guest Blog

We received this very interesting information regarding fire protection from another guest author, Nisha Sharma, who is from the United Kingdom.  We are happy to have “safety partners” from other parts of the world share their knowledge with our readers.  Nisha will tell you a little bit about herself at the end of the article.

Many people feel safe within their homes, but are you really prepared for disaster to strike? It’s easy to think that a fire won’t happen to your family, but the truth is that it’s that kind of thinking that leads to lack of preparation, which can lead to death. In order to protect your family from the unthinkable, it is recommended that you have both a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket kept within your home.

Most residential fires are started in the kitchen. Because of this, many people store fire extinguisher underneath the sink or in some other location within the kitchen. While a fire extinguisher is always a good piece of safety equipment to have on hand, they’re not always best to use within the kitchen. This is because many fire extinguishers contain water within the foam. When a fire breaks out in the kitchen, it’s usually from a grease fire or an electrical fire.

A grease fire is defined as any fire that contains cooking oils or fat within them. Adding even a small amount of water to these fires causes a fireball explosion that quickly consumes the entire room. If you were standing anywhere near the fire when the water was added, you’re almost always guaranteed to be badly burned, assuming you’re lucky enough to survive with your life.

An electrical fire is defined as any fire that involves the use of electrical equipment. Adding water to these fires can cause electric shocks that can be so severe that they cause death. You don’t even have to be close to the flames to get shocked, electricity can be conducted through the water and into the person who is trying to put out the flames.

When dealing with grease or electric fires, you should always use a fire blanket. The blanket itself is made out of fire retardant material that can be thrown over kitchen fires to smother the flames. The blanket can also be safely wrapped around all living beings if they become engulfed in flames. Because of this, a fire blanket, not a fire extinguisher, should be stored within the kitchen.

A fire extinguisher can be used to put out all other types of flames, including ordinary combustibles fires, flammable liquids or gas fires and metal fires. One example of this is a campfire quickly becoming out of hand and spreading to nearby grass. This is considered a combustible fire and can be put out with an extinguisher. Another example of when to use a fire extinguisher would be if a gasoline tank started to leak and a fire was started because of it. This is a gas fire, so an extinguisher may be used.

My name is Nisha Sharma, I am the Editor for FireSafetyStore.co.uk. I am a mother of one who loves to write especially about parenting advice, baby products and family advice. If you would like to find out more information about fire safety products, such as fire blankets, feel free to visit our website above.

Thank you, Nisha. We look forward to hearing from you again!