Fires happen every day and usually without any type of warning. The cause of a fire could be from cooking in the kitchen, a gas leak, a faulty appliance, or an automobile accident. Fires are an instant way for someone’s anxiety and adrenaline to spike dramatically. However, panicking is never the answer when a fire starts. There are several safety tips a person should keep in mind during a fire to limit the loss of life or minimize the potential for injuries.
Type Of Fire
The type of fire will determine what type of material should be used to extinguish it. Class B Firefighting Foam includes Aqueous Film Forming (AFFF), medium and high expansion foams, and Alcohol Resistant (AR-AFFF) substances. Experience with the type of foam needed can be provided with a training session provided by a consulting firm.
Smoke In The Air
If there is smoke in the air, everyone should remain low to the ground. Crawling or walking close to the ground will reduce the possibility of smoke inhalation that causes people to pass out or die. Covering the mouth with a piece of clean material will help to reduce smoke inhalation.
An individual shouldn’t keep their head any further than two feet from the ground in a smoke-filled building. If an individual has a flashlight, they should attempt to use it to see their way through the smoke.
Evacuation Plan
Every home or business should have an evacuation plan. If there is a second story to a home, the owner should consider having some type of a portable ladder that will attach to the window to lower individuals to the ground. This type of ladder can usually be stored under a bed or in a closet.
A business should regularly perform fire drills with employees. This preparation is invaluable when a fire strikes. Fire alarms should be installed throughout the building and should be pulled as soon as a fire is detected. An immediate telephone call should be made to the fire department as evacuation begins.
Feeling A Door
Before opening a door during a fire, an individual should feel the door for heat. There could be a raging fire on the other side of the door, and opening the door could cause a blowback, burning the individual attempting to escape the fire.
Highrise Evacuation
When an individual cannot escape a building because of a fire, they should block the cracks around doors and windows. Once this is done, they should use anything they can find to break a window to the outside and signal the firefighters for help.
Extinguishing A Fire
Class B foam is ideal to use on fires that are fueled by gasoline or oil. Gasoline stations, oil refineries, chemical plants, and other businesses that use these types of flammable products will benefit from training and Class B foam in the event of a fire. The foam can be ordered in pails, drums, or reusable tote tanks.
Municipal Class B foam can be used by municipalities for common settings they face. Besides municipalities, state, federal, and local governments can benefit from stocking Class B foam in the event of a fire. This type of foam can be used to fight fires in aircraft hangars, loading docks, and a wide range of other situations where Class B foams are commonly recommended. The foam will quickly limit the fire’s ability to spread.
Image: HG-Fotografie