How you react to fire emergencies depends on how much knowledge you have attained on fire safety. Everyone should be well educated on dealing with fire, seeing the outbreak of fire has much effect on our society.
You can't do certain important things like cooking, without the presence of fire. So we need to be informed on what to do and how to safe ourselves in case of fire outbreak.
In this post:
⦁ What is fire?
⦁ The elements of fire
⦁ Basic procedures to follow in case of a fire emergency
⦁ How to use a fire extinguisher
What Is Fire
Fire is a rapid chemical reaction called oxidation, that basically involves fuel, oxygen, and a source of heat which lead to light, heat, flame, sooth, and some other by products.
The Elements Of Fire
- Heat, 2. Fuel, 3. Oxygen, 4. chain Reaction
HEAT: heat being an element of fire, is the form of energy that raises the temperature of the fuel to its flashpoint (flashpoint is a point where the fuel is heated to a level that it can catch fire).
OXYGEN: the atmosphere contains about 21% of oxygen, but most flaming combustions will occur in as little as 15% of oxygen. While in excess of 21% combustion may be intense and cause explosion. when the oxygen level goes below 15% the fire will smother until oxygen is below 3%.
FUEL: fuel is the actual material involved in the combustion process. There are three basic types of fuel: solids, liquids, and gases.
CHAIN REACTION: a chain reaction is the combination of heat, fuel, and oxygen. the removal of one of this elements causes the fire to fade out.
Basic Procedures To Follow In Case Of Fire Emergency
Note: Every building should be equipped with fire detectors and extinguishers.
PROCEDURE 1. Any person discovering a fire should (R.A.C.E)
Rescue- rescue yourself and if possible anyone in danger without endangering yourself.
Activate- activate the building's fire system and call the fire service.
Confine- confine the fire by closing all windows and doors as you leave the building.
Evacuate- evacuate the building and report the situation to the first arriving fireman or police. OR
Extinguish- extinguish the fire (Note: only if you are trained on how to use a fire extinguisher, and if the situation does not present a personal safety hazard).
PROCEDURE 2. How to survive a building on fire.
. Crawl if there is smoke ( to avoid inhalation of smoke and the smoke from affecting your eyes)
. Feel doors before opening (if its too hot don't open, it means the fire is outside the door)
. Go to the nearest exit.
. Always use exit stairs, not elevators.
. Close doors as you exit.
. Use the fire extinguisher if the fire is small and you know how to use it safely.
. If you're on fire, stop, drop, and roll.
IF YOU GET TRAPED
- Close doors
- Seal cracks
- Open windows if save
- Signal for help and phone the fire service
PROCEDURE 3: If you're physically impaired (even if temporally)
- Learn more about fire safety.
- Plan ahead of fire emergencies by fixing fire detection equipment like: heat detectors, flame detectors, and smoke detectors etc.
- Be aware of your own capabilities and limitations.
PROCEDURE 4: If you have been trained to fight fire.
- Use the available fire extinguisher.
- Approach the fire from an upwind side ( the wind should be blowing against your back to keep the smoke and heat away from you)
- Apply the extinguisher.
- If the fire continue to burn out of control, back out and wait for the fire service.
How To Use A Fire Extinguisher
This can be easily remembered by using the P.A.S.S technique.
P - Pull the pin.
A - Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.
S - Squeeze the handle.
S - Sweep from side to side covering the entire fire areas.
Above all, you should:
- Always be alerted.
- Learn to manage fear.
- Know your limit.
- Remember and TAKE ACTION
Hope this was helpful? thanks for reading.