These top three misconceptions about fire extinguishers can be quite dangerous and could lead to fatal mistakes. Let's take a look:
1. Fire extinguishers are all the same
Even if all canisters look alike, the contents and purpose of the extinguishers are not. Take the time to research what type of extinguisher you have at home or near your work station. Using a water based fire extinguisher for a stove top grease fire could have fatal consequences.
2. Once installed fire extinguishers can be ignored
To be effective fire extinguishers must be maintained. The best way to determine if maintenance is required is by conduct monthly inspections as required by NFPA Chapter 10, section 6.2.1.
3. Fire extinguishers can be put anywhere
Although most units are small enough to fit in nearly any size of cabinet, will you be able to find the fire extinguisher in an emergency? For convenience and safety purposes, fire extinguishers should be installed on a wall near the fire exit. This way they can be easily grabbed and at the same time the person using it can go out the same exit if the fire proves to be unconquerable.
As a whole, fire extinguishers are simple to use, just remember the acronym "PASS":
P - Pull the pin (this should be located near the squeeze trigger);
A - Aim the nozzle of the fire extinguisher for the base of the fire;
S - Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent;
S - Sweep the discharging agent side to side to cover as much ground as you can.
While fire extinguishers are readily available and simple to use most fires have to be extinguished within the first three minutes of its inception for a home or office to be saved as a fire will double in size every minute. In other words, if a fire starts it must be knocked down almost immediately. Furthermore the use of a fire extinguisher needs to be a part of sound decision making which includes alerting other personnel in the building of the fire, performing an evacuation, activating the fire alarm and notifying the local fire department.
If upon using a fire extinguisher you notice that the fire is going in size or has not been extinguished when the fire extinguisher is empty, drop the extinguisher and immediately exit the building. More than anything, you should be responsible for you safety and your life.