Extinguishing a fire
Fire needs three components to stay alive, oxygen, heat and fuel and when one or more of these are removed a fire can usually be extinguished.
DOMESTIC workers who attend the monthly Domestic Watch meetings learnt basic fire safety awareness at their April meeting, courtesy of Chubb Fire Reaction.
Fire needs three components to stay alive: oxygen, heat and fuel, and when one or more of these are removed a fire can usually be extinguished. Make sure you use the correct type of fire extinguisher and be certain you can fight the fire before trying to extinguish it. A fire can double in size within two or three minutes. Fire extinguishers need to be regularly checked for dents, leaks or signs of damage. And make sure the pressure is at the recommended level. Remember the PASS word: Pull (pull the pin to unlock the extinguisher), Aim (aim at the base of the fire and stand two to three metres away), Squeeze (squeeze the lever to discharge the agent) and Sweep (sweep the spray from left to right until the flames are totally extinguished). Don’t tackle a fire if you don’t know how to use a fire extinguisher, as there won’t be enough time to stop and read the instructions.
If the fire is spreading quickly, evacuate and call the fire department. Seven out of 10 fire-related deaths occur from breathing poisonous gases produced by fire. Smoke inhalation or exposure to fire itself can be life threatening, so get educated about the basics and learn CPR and burn treatment.
It is also advisable to have a fire blanket in your working environment, which can be used to shield your body from a fire.
The domestic workers learnt some life lessons from the Chubb Fire Reaction team, and Michelle Pelser (coordinator of Domestic Watch) thanked them for coming through to support the community policing forums in Mondeor and Moffatview precincts, as well as SOS Protect Sure, who run the classes for the Domestic Watch.
