Fire Extinguisher

I never thought about having a fire extinguisher in my home until I moved into an apartment that had them in a few of the rooms. I guess most of us try not to think about the bad things that can happen, but there are others that will look out for us. My landlord put them in for her own protection, meaning the protection of her property, but she also cared that we had a way to protect ourselves. They can’t stop a full fledged fire, but they can stop the small ones from going out of control.

If you live in an apartment building, you may find a fire extinguisher in the hallway or you may find them in your apartment. The ones in the hallways are usually protected by glass so that they are not abused. In some cases, when the case is opened or the glass is broken to get to the fire extinguisher, a signal will go to the fire company to let them know a fire may be in progress. Not all do this though, so if you find yourself in the position of using an extinguisher, make sure you pull the fire alarm as well, just to be on the safe side. You should do this with a small fire that you are sure you can extinguish as well. It may get the best of you.

If you don’t have a fire extinguisher in your home or your apartment, you should make sure you get a few. They can be found in many places, and can even be ordered online in some cases. They must be checked on occasion to be sure they are still up to par. They won’t do you much good if they are no longer working. If you really don’t know where to go or where to buy, you may be able to call your local fire department for information.

Even more important than just buying a fire extinguisher is to know how to use it. They are rather easy to use, but knowing and practicing how to use them is the best thing you can do for you and your family. Children should learn to use them as well. The procedure is simple, and sometimes communities or even businesses will have drills so anyone can learn. Remember to know how to work the fire extinguisher, and also that you point it at the origin of the fire if you want to put it out. Aim helps put the fire out quickly, but blindly aiming at the flames in general will not always work. Also learn the difference between when you should try it, and when a fire is too out of control and the best thing you can do is to get out.