When to Use Fire Blankets vs Fire Extinguishers

Guest Blog

We received this very interesting information regarding fire protection from another guest author, Nisha Sharma, who is from the United Kingdom.  We are happy to have “safety partners” from other parts of the world share their knowledge with our readers.  Nisha will tell you a little bit about herself at the end of the article.

Many people feel safe within their homes, but are you really prepared for disaster to strike? It’s easy to think that a fire won’t happen to your family, but the truth is that it’s that kind of thinking that leads to lack of preparation, which can lead to death. In order to protect your family from the unthinkable, it is recommended that you have both a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket kept within your home.

Most residential fires are started in the kitchen. Because of this, many people store fire extinguisher underneath the sink or in some other location within the kitchen. While a fire extinguisher is always a good piece of safety equipment to have on hand, they’re not always best to use within the kitchen. This is because many fire extinguishers contain water within the foam. When a fire breaks out in the kitchen, it’s usually from a grease fire or an electrical fire.

A grease fire is defined as any fire that contains cooking oils or fat within them. Adding even a small amount of water to these fires causes a fireball explosion that quickly consumes the entire room. If you were standing anywhere near the fire when the water was added, you’re almost always guaranteed to be badly burned, assuming you’re lucky enough to survive with your life.

An electrical fire is defined as any fire that involves the use of electrical equipment. Adding water to these fires can cause electric shocks that can be so severe that they cause death. You don’t even have to be close to the flames to get shocked, electricity can be conducted through the water and into the person who is trying to put out the flames.

When dealing with grease or electric fires, you should always use a fire blanket. The blanket itself is made out of fire retardant material that can be thrown over kitchen fires to smother the flames. The blanket can also be safely wrapped around all living beings if they become engulfed in flames. Because of this, a fire blanket, not a fire extinguisher, should be stored within the kitchen.

A fire extinguisher can be used to put out all other types of flames, including ordinary combustibles fires, flammable liquids or gas fires and metal fires. One example of this is a campfire quickly becoming out of hand and spreading to nearby grass. This is considered a combustible fire and can be put out with an extinguisher. Another example of when to use a fire extinguisher would be if a gasoline tank started to leak and a fire was started because of it. This is a gas fire, so an extinguisher may be used.

My name is Nisha Sharma, I am the Editor for FireSafetyStore.co.uk. I am a mother of one who loves to write especially about parenting advice, baby products and family advice. If you would like to find out more information about fire safety products, such as fire blankets, feel free to visit our website above.

Thank you, Nisha. We look forward to hearing from you again!

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In almost all occupations, electrical hazards exist in some form.  Those hazards are multiplied for workers involved in cleanup and recovery efforts following major disasters.  A particular life-threatening danger exists around downed and low-hanging electrical wires caused from high winds, ice storms, or other weather-related troubles.

Some Safety Tips:

• First, contact appropriate utility personnel.

• Do not assume that a downed conductor is safe simply because it is on the ground, or not sparking.  Always consider all equipment, lines and conductors to be energized.

• The circuits don’t always turn off when a power line falls into a tree or on the ground.  These downed power lines can kill you if you touch them, or the ground nearby.

• Low-hanging wires still have voltage potential even if they aren’t touching the ground.

• Never go near a downed or fallen electric power line.  Always assume that it is energized.  Fences, water pipes, bushes and trees, buildings, telephone/fiber optic cables, aluminum roofs, siding, sheds, etc., can also be energized by downed wires.

• Some sources that create electrical backfeed are: circuit ties/switch points, lightning, generators, and downstream events.

• Remember that electricity can travel away from its source.

• Don’t touch anything that is touching the wire.

• Never touch a person injured by a downed power line. Call 911 immediately.

• If you are in your car, stay inside and use a cell phone for help.  Do not touch the outside of the car.

• Finally, never drive over downed power lines.

OSHA

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