Are you worried about what can happen in case there is a fire outbreak at your home? When people think about a fire outbreak, their first reaction is to buy a fire extinguisher and place it in their houses. However, without basic guidelines, such extinguishers are not useful and might not save your property or life when there is a fire breakout. Below are various ways you can increase the effectiveness of fire extinguishers in your home.
Train everyone how to use them
What happens when a fire breaks out while you are at work and the nanny does not know how to use the fire extinguisher? Many people have an idea about how a fire extinguisher should work, but few people have actually used one or received training on how to handle one. Do not assume that everyone in your house can use the fire extinguisher. Take a few minutes to show them how the extinguisher works, especially the safety pin and the best way to direct the nozzle. Remember to include children in the training since these skills can help them in future.
Place them at strategic points
Extinguishers are only effective if they can be used when the need arises. As such, it does not make sense to place your extinguishers in the garage to help in dealing with fire outbreaks in the house. The best approach is to place fire extinguishers close to high-risk areas where they can be easily accessed in case of an emergency. An example of a high-risk area is the kitchen. In this case, you should place an extinguisher at the kitchen entrance to be used in case of any incidences. Additionally, if your house is big, you should consider having several fire extinguishers placed around your home instead of one.
Confirm they are in perfect working condition
If an extinguisher has been in your house for several years without being used, it is vital to ensure that it is in proper working condition. It can be unfortunate for the operating levers to jam when you want to use extinguisher when an emergency arises. To avoid this problem, contact an expert annually to visit your home to assess the fire extinguishers and confirm that they are in perfect condition. In case of any defects, the fire extinguishers can be repaired or replaced.
Remember to seek professional recommendations when purchasing fire extinguishers to reduce the possibility of the extinguishers developing problems in future.
Share29 January 2018
Ever since I was a young child, my parents have instilled in me a passion for helping the environment. I was the child who happily used the same school bag right through primary school, so it was one less schoolbag that ended up unnecessarily in the trash. As I have moved into adulthood, I do everything I can to recycle. This blog shares my passion for recycling because I know that even small efforts add up to a significant positive impact on the environment. Join me on my recycling journey, so that you too can make a difference to the planet that we will pass on to our children.