TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SAFE FIRE FIGHTING

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TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SAFE FIRE FIGHTING

Basic study of fire fighting is very important for every employees working in a hazardous industry. Every seconds of their work involved dangerous incident of an unexpected accident. The management will instruct them for safe work practice and endow with fire protection/prevention measures. It's the employee's responsibility to adopt safe work practice and to use the fire prevention/protection measures efficiently.

Fire Fighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A fire fighter fights the fire to prevent loss of life, destruction of property and the environment. Fire fighting is a highly technical skill that requires professionals who have spent years training in both general fire fighting techniques and specialized areas.

Even though, at initial stage of fire, a non expert can extinguish the fire with some common sense, courage and with some basic knowledge in fire. This article is for those people, who have the courage and have basic knowledge in fire.

All fires are very dangerous and life-threatening. Your safety should always be your primary concern when attempting to fight a fire.

Before deciding to fight a fire, be certain that:-

1. The fire is small and not spreading. A fire can double in size within two or three minutes.
2. You have the proper fire extinguisher for what is burning.
3. The fire won't block your exit if you can't control it. A good way to make sure this is to keep the exit at your back. 
4. You know your fire extinguisher works. Inspect extinguisher once a month for dents, leaks or other signs of damage. Assure the pressure is at the recommended level. On extinguisher equipped with a gauge, the needle should be in the green zone not too high and not too low.  
5.  You know "How to use your fire extinguisher?" There's not enough time to read instruction when a fire occurs.

The next information is about "How to fight a fire safely?"

1. Always stand with an exit at your back.
2. Stand several feet away from the fire, moving closer once the fire starts to diminish.
3. Use the fire extinguisher a sweeping motion and aim at the base of the fire.
4. If possible, use a ‘buddy system' to have someone back you up or call for help if something goes wrong
5. Always sure to watch the area for a while to make sure it doesn't re-ignite.

Be cautious and never fight a fire if:

1. The fire is spreading rapidly: - Only use fire extinguisher when the fire is in early stages. If the fire is already spreading quickly, evacuate and call the fire department. 
2. You don't know what is burning: - Unless you know what is burning, you won't know what type of fire extinguisher to use. Even if you have an ABC type fire extinguisher, there could be something that will explode or produce highly toxic smoke. 
3. You don't have a proper fire extinguisher: - The wrong type of fire extinguisher is very dangerous or life-threatening.  
4. There is too much smoke or you are at risk of inhaling smoke: - Seven out of ten fire related deaths occurs from breathing poisonous gases produced by the fire. 

Any sort of fire will produce some amount of carbon monoxide, the most deadly gas produced by a fire. Materials such as wool, silk, nylon and some plastics can produce other highly toxic gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen cyanide or hydrogen chloride. Beware – all of these are fatal.

The above information may valuable to you in any accidental fire at your work place or at your home or some other places. It's your fast improvisation and common sense can reduce a major accident.

Always remember that you are not an expert in fire fighting, but you are obligated towards the society to help the others with your skill and will to reduce the accident. At last, pray the almighty for a null accident day in your life span.