Choosy Extinguishers
A portable fire extinguisher can save lives and property by putting out a small fire or containing it until the fire department arrives. But when it comes to extinguishers, one type does not fit all. There are five primary types of fire extinguishers, each designed to put out different kinds of fires:
- A : For use with materials like cloth, wood and paper;
- B : For use with combustible and flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, oil and oil-based paints;
- C : For use with electrical equipment like appliances, tools, or other equipment that is plugged in;
- D : For use with flammable metals like aluminum, magnesium, and titanium; and
- K : For use with vegetable oils, animal oils and fats in cooking appliances.
There are also multi-purpose fire extinguishers that might be labeled “B-C” or “A-B-C”. These are best suited for home use and can be found at most home improvement stores.
Before you consider using an extinguisher there are some very important details to remember:
- The U. S. Fire Administration recommends that only those trained in the proper use and maintenance of fire extinguishers consider using them when appropriate! Contact your local fire department for training in your area;
- If you do not think you would be able to safely put the fire out in five seconds using an extinguisher, do not attempt to use it! Leave the area and call 911; and
- When using an extinguisher, be sure to follow the PASS method – P ull the pin, A im low, S queeze the handle, and S weep from side to side.
To learn more about fire safety and how to properly extinguish fires, check out FEMA's preparedness activity module, Putting Out Fires .
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Fall Back and Do This…
It's that time of year again! As we prepare our clocks to “fall back” for the end of Daylight Saving Time on November 2, use this opportunity to also prepare your home for fire emergencies by changing the batteries in your smoke alarm. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, most alarms need a new battery at least once a year . In addition, if your smoke alarm is more than 10 years old, replace it with a new alarm and a new battery.
And with colder temperatures on the way, you may want to review heating safety techniques with your family and create a fire escape plan . Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Some simple steps can prevent most heating-related fires from happening. These steps include:
- Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as a furnace, fireplace, or portable heater;
- Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed; and
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected yearly by a qualified professional.
Making a fire escape plan and practicing a fire escape drill are important elements of home fire safety. Start planning today! This toolkit from the National Fire Protection Agency has everything you need to get started.
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On the Job Preparedness
Disasters can have a major impact on the workplace, both for the people who work there, and to workplace operations. After a disaster, workplaces cannot recover without their people and people cannot recover without a job to go back to.
Organizations can have tremendous influence on their personnel when it comes to preparing for a disaster. For example, when employers encourage employees to be prepared for disasters, employees are 75 percent more likely to take action. And with more than 63 percent of the U.S. population aged 16 or older in the labor force, the workplace is one of the most effective environments for educating and encouraging people to take steps to be ready for disasters.
America's PrepareAthon! has tools and resources, such as hazard-specific Playbooks , to help business owners talk with their employees about emergency preparedness. America's PrepareAthon! will benefit your organization by helping to:
- Increase knowledge of safety policies and procedures;
- Reduce a disaster's effects, including injury and loss of life, property or inventory damage, and financial loss from business disruption; and
- Build morale and trust by demonstrating a commitment to safety and well-being.
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The Neighbor Effect
With the frequency and severity of natural disasters on the rise, so has the importance of our understanding of community resilience in disaster recovery increased. A sense of community positively shaped disaster recovery for residents of 12 neighborhoods hit by Hurricane Sandy. A new study conducted by the Associated Press-National Opinion Research Center for Public Affairs Research shows these 12 communities report high levels of recovery two years after the disaster due, in part, to neighbors helping neighbors.
If a disaster hits your community, your most immediate source of aid will be each other. Let America's PrepareAthon! assist by providing the tools you'll need to prepare for various disasters including winter storms and wildfires. Visit www.ready.gov/prepare for valuable information to help you take action and practice the necessary steps to protect your family, community, and organizations today!
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Dates for Your Calendar!
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